The PML-Q leaders, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, on Wednesday challenged before the Lahore High Court (LHC) 20-year-old inquiries initiated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against them.

The petitioners contended that in 2000, then chairman of the respondent bureau proceeded against them on the allegations of misuse of authority, assets beyond means and willful default under the National Accountability Ordinance 1999. The petitioners argued that the conduct of bureau and the manner in which its officials use authority have also been judicially noticed by the superior courts of the country in a number of cases.

The petitioner pleaded that all the three investigations were recommended for closure by the investigating officers and regional board of the NAB during 2017 and 2018 when the regime of political arch rivals was in place.

However, they submitted, the NAB chairman approved in 2019 bifurcation of investigations against them regarding allegations of assets beyond means. They argue that the so-called order for bifurcation of the investigation after a lapse of about 20 years was malafide to contain and cage the petitioners' role and their party in the political arena. The leaders claimed that not a single piece of evidence or material was available before the then chairman of the bureau to pass an order for authorisation of investigations.

The petitioners further argued that the entire process from commencing and conducting the investigations is in violation of mandatory provisions of the ordinance and prayed to declare all the actions taken by the respondent bureau illegal and without lawful authority.