Second-tier PML-N leadership, too, 'involved in corruption': Akbar

Responding to allegations leveled by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar has said that Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has recovered Rs 7 billion in the past one year while Anti-Corruption Punjab has recovered land worth Rs 129 billion in the same period. Shahzad Akbar while addressing a press conference here on Friday said that the PML-N MNA and Spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb has asked questions about the Asset Recovery Unit in the Parliament. She asked what the ARU has done to bring back looted money stashed abroad, he said, adding the critics need to understand how the ARU works.

About the performance of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), he said that FIA has recovered Rs 7 billion in the past one year. He alleged that apart from former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif, the second-tier leadership of the PML-N was also involved in corruption. He said that the incumbent government has replied to the questions and criticism it received. "Those who were in power before us did not bother answering questions," he further said. "Even Marriyum said that this government is quick to give a response," he claimed.

Akbar alleged that those who remained in power during the past 35 years had illegally occupied public lands. He said the opposition is making noise over the recovery of government land. Akbar said the Anti-Corruption Punjab had recovered land worth Rs 129 billion during the last one year. He said that just within one week after the launch of anti-corruption app by the government of Punjab, land worth Rs 80-90 million was recovered.

He said the government has spent Rs 10.3 million on the ARU. He advised Marriyum to stop 'misleading' the nation with 'false' claims.

He said when Shahbaz's son Hamza Shahbaz was questioned, he told authorities to ask questions from his brother Salman Shahbaz.

He said the government was asked about various questions and it provided answers to them. "We were asked about the money that was spent on overseas trips," he said, adding: "We gave them the list of expenditures that incurred."

Akbar alleged that the PML-N had laundered money in the past through 'cash boys'. "Who are Masroor Anwar and Shoaib?" he asked.

He said it has been several days and neither Shehbaz nor anyone from the PML-N had responded to his 18 questions.

Akbar spoke about the recent settlement between a Pakistani citizen and the National Crime Agency. "The NCA has transferred £190m to the government of Pakistan," he said. "The NCA's press release has said that it was a civil suit and there was no criminal element," he added.