PTI government versus NAB

As the federal government's spokesman, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry normally does a pretty good job of explaining and defending its policies. But when it comes to any controversial issue involving Prime Minister Imran Khan, logic, even common sensical reasoning, seems to escape him, like when he defended his boss' use of helicopter for trips to his Banigala residence. Chaudhry had coolly declared that the average cost of those trips was not more than Rs 50-55 per kilometre whereas the actually cost, according to experts, was around Rs 16,000 per nautical mile. He has now created a considerable controversy by making gratuitous remarks against the National Accountability Bureau, saying "the NAB is insulting the Prime Minister by pursuing the helicopter case against him. This case should have been quashed as the world is laughing at the anti-corruption body for pursing it against the incumbent prime minister."
These assertions lack both legal and moral justifications. It is as strange an argument as can be for him to make that by simply pursuing a case of alleged wrongdoing the NAB is insulting the PM. In any functioning democracy, no one, including a prime minister, is above the law. It is all the more important for Khan, one of whose favourite themes is to establish rule of law, to lead by example. He may not have violated any rules, as some others in his party insist while explaining that he did not use the KP government helicopter for some personal purpose; he had accompanied the then chief minister Pervez Khattak in the latter's official helicopter for the inauguration of a government project. They may have a point, but it is for the NAB to investigate the matter and decide whether or not the rules were violated. Actually, Khan had appeared, in early August last year, before the Peshawar NAB, which makes one wonder what prevents him from doing the same now. As prime minister, he has an even greater responsibility, in fact a moral obligation, to fully cooperate with the investigators.
Understandably, the NAB Chairman, former Justice Javed Iqbal, has not allowed minister Chaudhry's unwarranted frontal attack on his organisation unanswered. While addressing his officers recently, he made it clear that the Prime Minister has no immunity in any NAB investigation against him. He went on to aver that if the Leader of the Opposition can face NAB proceedings so should the PM since he is not exempt from investigations. Subsequently, the NAB chairman stated that NAB will not proceed against anyone on any minister's wishes or whims.
The PM and his cabinet members surely are aware of these basic facts. Which makes one wonder, why take an untenable stance, which can only harm the government. Moreover, it makes ring hollow PTI leaders' relentless refrain that the party has a promise to keep to the people to end corruption and restore rule of law. Imran Khan should come out with a statement to clear his position.