Imran Khan's NAB arrests ex-Pak FM Khawaja Asif; continues crackdown on Nawaz Sharif camp

Pakistan's former Foreign Minister and PML-N leer Khawaja Muhamm Asif was arrested in Islamab on Tuesday by anti-corruption officials for allegedly having assets beyond means of income. Asif was taken into custody of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) when he was coming out of a party meeting, said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb.

'Assets beyond kwn sources of income case'

NAB, in a statement, said its officials from Lahore office executed arrest in "assets beyond kwn sources of income case." bureau said that Asif held a Dubai iqama (work permit) from 2004 to 2008, and earned a total of Rs 136 million for his services as a consultant legal viser. 

PML-N leer h earlier been summoned for an inquiry but he failed to provide required evidence, Dawn quoted Nawazish Ali, bureau's spokesperson as saying. 

Khawaja Asif was directed to submit details of salary he received and or information. He was also asked to provide job application he h submitted to a foreign company as well as his iqama agreement. "Khawaja Asif continuously failed to cooperate during inquiry," spokesperson said, ding that he was arrested with approval of NAB chairman.

In a press statement issued later, NAB Lahore said that investigation against Asif was being conducted under Section 5 of National Accountability Ordinance 1999 and Section 3 of Anti-Money Laundering Act 2010. According to statement, Asif was elected as senator in 1991, prior to which he h total assets of Rs 5.1 million. By 2018, this figure h ballooned to Rs221 million, which is t justifiable with his kwn sources of income, said NAB Lahore, according to Dawn.

Besides, statement ded, Asif was running a Benami company in name of his employee, Tariq Mir. A sum of Rs 400 million was deposited in bank account of company, titled 'Tariq Mir and Company', but re was information about sources of income, said NAB Lahore.

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Nawaz Sharif slams Imran Khan's PTI govt

PML-N chief and former PM Nawaz Sharif condemned arrest. He said it showed government was rattled and that days of blind vengeance (by government) are numbered. Slamming Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government, Nawaz Sharif called Asif's arrest a "joke."

"Khawaja Asif's arrest in asset beyond means is a joke and shows desperation of government," Nawaz Sharif was quoted as saying by Pakistani journalist Murtaza Ali Shah. His daughter Maryam Nawaz alleged that Asif was being pressured to oppose Nawaz Sharif and was arrested on refusing to do so.

With his arrest, Asif w joins a long list of PML-N leers facing cases of corruption, including party president Shehbaz Sharif, senior members Hamza Shehbaz, Rana Sanaullah, Javed Latif, Ahsan Iqabl, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Sa Rafique, among ors. arrest comes at a time when Pakistan Democratic Movement -- an alliance of 11 Opposition parties -- is organising protest rallies across length and breth of country, demanding Prime Minister Imran Khan resign.

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(With ncy inputs)