- Shehbaz, Zardari return to NA together after token boycott
ISLAMABAD , October 29: Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari returned to the National Assembly together after a token boycott by the opposition over failing to produce party president and Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif in the lower house of the parliament on time.
The opposition ended boycott of the National Assembly session after Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi convinced them to return to the assembly.
Earlier, ruckus marred the national assembly session when PML-N leaders staged a protest for over the failure to produce PML-N President and Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif on time.
Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) and other opposition parties have also staged a walkout along with the PML-N. Speaking on the floor of the assembly, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi called on the opposition to attend the session and present their stance.
He said that the government had no objection on Shehbaz Sharif attending the session, adding that the government and opposition are two sides of a coin and the opposition should show responsibility. Earlier, the PML-N president complained that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials don’t want him to attend the session but the anti-graft watchdog had to take him to Islamabad on his insistence. Regarding alleged revenge tactics of the NAB, he said media understands better.
Meanwhile, Accountability court has extended physical remand of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif till November 7 and handed him over to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to probe Ashiana Housing scandal.
Shehbaz Sharif, who was arrested by NAB on October 5, was produced before the court, day ahead of the expiry of his 14- day physical remand.-DNA