LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday clarified that it initiated inquiry into money laundering allegations against former PM Nawaz Sharif on basis of media reports.
On Tuesday, NAB ordered an inquiry against Nawaz Sharif for allegedly laundering US$4.9 billion to India.
According to a NAB statement, the chairman of the bureau took notice of media report which made the money laundering claims citing a World Bank report. However, both the State Bank of Pakistan and the World Bank refuted the claims and said no money laundering had taken place.
NAB clarified that the media report had mentioned that former PM Nawaz, ex-finance minister Ishaq Dar, former State Bank governor Ashraf Wathra and deputy governor Saeed Ahmed were involved in the alleged malpractice.
NAB further said that it initiated inquiry into the matter on basis of media reports, while the bureau is currently verifying the claims.
“Hence, to say that NAB ‘s actions are based on revenge or personal vendetta is completely false and the bureau works strictly according to the law,” it was said.
In the wake of NAB’s inquiry, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that a committee should be formed to investigate the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) allegations of money laundering against former PM Nawaz Sharif.
Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Shehbaz Sharif had also earlier said the same thing and claimed that NAB’s hasty decision to launch this investigation against Nawaz Sharif without first verifying the facts should be investigated.
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