LONDON: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Malik Ahmed Khan, who is visiting London, criticised the Supreme Court’s decision regarding amendments to the National Account­ability Ordinance, terming the law “destructive for Pakistan”.

Mr Ahmed, who is here on a personal visit and is staying at The Churchill hotel in central London where interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar is also staying, said the two had not met and that he “had no idea” Mr Kakar is staying there.

“I had no meeting with Mr Kakar,” he told reporters outside the hotel on Sunday. If these rumours had not been circulating in the media [perhaps I would have]. I have good terms with him, but because he is the caretaker prime minister and if meeting him raises a question regarding his neutral stance, I will not be meeting him.“

Mr Ahmed has had several meetings with N-league high-ups, including party supremo Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif. He said in his most recent meeting, the SC decision on the NAB law amendments came under discussion.

“In the previous meeting, it was discussed that the NAB decision by SC is fundamentally not against political parties but against Pakistan. With this NAB, no civil servant is ready to sign on any file, businessmen are not ready to make investments and there is an environment of harassment. This is a black law, and that has been my position from day one.”

Mr Khan said he had raised the issue earlier in 2017, when Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was prime minister, that the law should be discussed in parliament and ended. He added that he also made a similar request to Shehbaz Sharif.

“This has been used under the ruse of accountability to trim down politicians. [In comparison] against Imran Khan we own every single word when it comes to accountability. But can they prove any cases against us under NAB laws?” he asked, adding he did not want to get into a “tit for tat”.

On speculations surrounding the rushed return of Shehbaz Sharif, Mr Ahmed said, “This [Supreme Court] decision came during the last days of Shehbaz’s visit here, so he did come back to discuss its implications, if there are any references that can come from this.”

When asked whether he agrees with PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari that the NAB law is bad, Mr Ahmed said, “I’m convinced on this, what Asif sahib says is absolutely right, it is destructive for the country.”

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

PAKISTAN has now registered 50 polio cases this year. We all saw it coming and yet there was nothing we could do to...
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...