In contrast, Khan claimed that NAB’s recovery in the past year was only Rs15 million, compared to the Rs1,100 billion the institution was poised to collect before the amendments
RAWALPINDI: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, currently incarcerated at Adiala Jail, has vehemently condemned the recent amendments to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws, denouncing them as unconstitutional and detrimental to the country’s justice system. In a statement from prison, Khan accused the nation’s elite of using the amendments to shield themselves from accountability while urging the public to make sacrifices. He asserted, “These NAB amendments are a disaster and unconstitutional. The elite have forgiven themselves billions of rupees in corruption cases and are now telling the nation to make sacrifices.”
Khan criticized the ruling class for allegedly benefiting from legislation designed to evade justice. He highlighted a stark contrast between his government’s performance and the current NAB’s efficacy. Under his administration, NAB recovered Rs480 billion, a significant increase compared to the Rs290 billion recovered from 1999 to 2017. In contrast, Khan claimed that NAB’s recovery in the past year was only Rs15 million, compared to the Rs1,100 billion the institution was poised to collect before the amendments. Imran also drew attention to the plight of prisoners at Adiala Jail, many of whom remain behind bars due to their inability to pay bail or fines as low as Rs50,000.
The PTI leader lamented, “While the elite are pardoning themselves, hundreds of inmates here remain jailed over minor financial penalties.” He argued that the NAB amendments effectively granted immunity to powerful individuals, criticizing the selective application of laws. He compared this situation to previous instances where former army chiefs, including General Pervez Musharraf and General (retired) Qamar Javed Bajwa, had offered relief to politicians such as Asif Ali Zardari and the Sharif family, stalling corruption investigations during their tenures.
Khan advocated for NAB to operate as an independent institution, free from political interference, and suggested that the Supreme Judicial Council should oversee it to ensure impartiality. He also responded to the Army Chief’s recent call for reducing national hatred, stating that the establishment should take the lead in easing tensions. Additionally, Khan condemned the detention of his wife, Bushra Bibi, who has been imprisoned for seven months. “What is her crime?” he questioned, criticizing the authorities for targeting his family.
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