Imprisoned Shehbaz Sharif addresses National Assembly

Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) President and Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that he wanted to discuss the unholy alliance between the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Addressing the National Assembly session, Sharif expressed his gratitude to NA Speaker Asad Qaiser and opposition leaders for bringing the issue of his arrest to the Parliament.

He said he wanted to discuss the unholy alliance between NAB and PTI. He said he had been openly talking about the alliance between the two bodies, during the election campaign. He also claimed that his arrest orders had already been issued between July 5 and July 6 by NAB chairman.

Sharif continued saying that the plan to arrest him was carried out ahead of by-elections. He added, "Sheikh Rasheed had said I will be put behind bars."

In the morning, Sharif was brought by NAB team to the Parliament to attend the session. At their arrival, the NAB team handed over Sharif to sergeant of arms via gate number five. Former leader of the opposition Khursheed Shah also met with Sharif in his chamber.

Earlier, NA Speaker Asad Qaiser had issued production order regarding Sharif presence in the Parliament House. Sharif was brought to Islamabad from Lahore today for the session.

The NA session has been convened after the opposition requested the NA speaker to hold a session to discuss the arrest of the opposition leader in the Rs14 billion Ashiana Housing case.

On Tuesday, accountability court extended Sharif's physical remand by 14 days. Since his arrest on October 5, the PML-N president has been in NAB custody.