LAHORE: As PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday tested Covid-19 positive, his party held the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) responsible for it.

According to the PML-N, Shahbaz contracted the virus after his appearance before the NAB Lahore on Tuesday last. It said NAB was informed multiple times in writing that Shahbaz was a cancer survivor with weak immunity; therefore, he should be allowed to record his statement through a video link but the anti-graft body did not care and endanger his life by summoning him at its office, exposing him to the virus.

No precautions regarding social distancing were observed during Shahbaz’s appearance before NAB on Tuesday last in money laundering and income beyond means investigations. Most of the PML-N workers gathered outside Thokar Niaz Beg office of the bureau were not covering their faces with masks.

Former prime minister and PML-N senior vice-president Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, secretary general Ahsan Iqbal and information secretary Marriyum Auranzeb were infected with the virus for accompanying Shahbaz during his appearance before the court last week to secure pre-arrest bail.

The PML-N said Shahbaz’s corona test was negative after the Lahore High Court’s appearance but he tested positive after the NAB office hearing showing that he contracted it there (NAB). As Shahbaz had the coronavirus test from Chughtai laboratory, the NAB has asked him to get his test repeated from either Shaukat Khanum or Agha Khan laboratories for a double check.

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“Shahbaz had put on gloves and mask during his appearance before a combined investigation team and hand sanitiser was provided to him and social distancing was also observed,” it said, adding that close associates of Shahbaz had been infected with the virus; therefore NAB could not be blamed for it.

“On Thursday, there was an important appearance of Shahbaz in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case in the court but he did not appear because of Covid issue... the timing was important,” it said.

According to a press release issued by the PML-N, Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa telephoned Shahbaz Sharif and inquired after his health. Gen Bajwa offered help in his treatment. Shahbaz thanked the army chief and said he was self-isolating at home.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, BNP head Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Deputy Chairman Senate Saleem Mandivwalla, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaisar and Chinese ambassador Yao Jing also telephoned Shahbaz and wished him fast recovery.

Giving a strong reaction to his uncle’s contracting the deadly virus, PML-N vice-president Maryam Nawaz Sharif tweeted: “Look what you did to him (Shahbaz). The fact that he came back from London despite being well aware of the pettiness & vindictiveness establishes that he was not evading accountability in any way. If it were accountability intended, you wouldn’t have risked his life - Shame.”

She further said Shahbaz Sharif contracted coronavirus which proved that his apprehensions were not unfounded. “Those who imperiled his already frail health knowing his susceptibility will have to answer. For this & for everything, one day May Allah restore him and all affected to perfect health,” she said.

PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah said if anything happened to Shahbaz Prime Minister Imran Khan and NAB would be responsible for this.

Speaking at a press conference in Model Town on Thursday, PML-N leaders Azma Bokhari, Attaullah Tarar and Rana Mashhood said Imran Niazi had put the life of Shahbaz in danger for which he would be made accountable.

Indictment deferred: An accountability court on Thursday deferred indictment of Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shahbaz in a supplementary reference of Ramzan Sugar Mills as the former did not attend the proceedings for being tested positive for Covid-19.

At the start of the hearing, Presiding Judge Amjad Nazir Chaudhry asked whether Mr Shahbaz was present in the court.

However, a counsel told the judge that Mr Shahbaz had tested positive for the novel coronavirus and had been quarantined at home. He also presented a report of the Covid-19 test of the PML-N president.

The counsel requested the judge to adjourn hearing for three weeks.

To a court’s query, he stated that corona patients were supposed to live in isolation for at least 14 days before getting their second test conducted.

Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz was produced by the jail officials as strict direction was issued to them on last hearing.

The judge admonished Hamza for taking a seat, during the proceedings, in the courtroom without permission.

The judge adjourned further hearing till July 1.

Last year in April, both Shahbaz and Hamza were indicted in the main reference and they had pleaded not guilty before the court. Both had been granted bail in the sugar mills case by the Lahore High Court. However, Hamza is still in judicial custody in another case of illegal assets/money laundering against him.

The NAB alleged that Mr Shahbaz being chief minister of Punjab had approved construction of a drain in Chiniot at a cost of Rs360 million only to benefit Ramzan sugar mills owned by his sons Hamza and Suleman. It said public funds were misused for the benefit of family business of the suspects.

Judge Amjad Nazir Chaudhry also adjourned hearing of Ashiana-i-Iqbal Housing Scheme case against Mr Shahbaz, former principal secretary to prime minister Fawad Hassan Fawad, former director general of Lahore Development Authority Ahad Cheema and other suspects.

Being released on bail, Mr Fawad appeared before the court himself while jail officials produced Cheema. Shahbaz’s pleader Chaudhry Nawaz also appeared before the court while the hearing was postponed till June 16.

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2020