Opposition should face NAB cases instead of resorting to protest: Sumsam

ISLAMABAD: Punjab Minister for Information Syed Sumsam Ali Bukhari Tuesday said the opposition leadership should not use democracy as a shield to protect their assets made through corrupt practices during their regimes.

Talking to a private news channel, he said the opposition leaders should better face investigation by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) instead of resorting to protest.

He said both Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz had ruled the country for many decades but they did nothing for the people's welfare and the country's development and besides left behind a huge burden of loans.

Provincial Minister said the government was ready to sit with the opposition to bring the deteriorated economy of the country on track.

Terming the budget a balanced, he said  the fiscal budget was reflection of Prime Minister Imran Khan's concern for downtrodden people of the country.

Sumsam Bukhari said it was constitutional responsibility of both the government and opposition to work together for the betterment of poor masses of the country.

To a question on the arrest of Hamza Sharif, the minister said courts and institutions were free and no one was above the law and Constitution.

He said NAB is an independent institution and the government had nothing to do with its investigation.

The Punjab information minister said the arrest of influential people is endorsement of Prime Minister Imran Khan's narrative of accountability across the board.

Lamenting the posture of opposition on the arrest of corrupt elements, he said they were oblivious to the problems of masses but were protecting their vested interests.