Didn’t receive pay, perks during 10-year stint as CM: Shahbaz

LAHORE: An accountability court on Saturday issued a notice to the National Accountability Bureau on an application moved by Shahbaz Sharif and Hamza Shahbaz requesting the court to make documents part of the record before their indictment in the Ramzan Sugar Mills reference. The notice was issued by Duty Judge Jawadul Hassan as Judge Najamul Hassan who is hearing Ashiana Iqbal and Ramzan Sugar Mills references was on leave. The accused nominated in both the references including Chairman Public Accounts Committee Shahbaz Sharif, Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz, former principal secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad and others appeared before the court amid tight security as heavy contingents of police had cordoned off the court premises. For Saturday’s hearing, Hamza Shahbaz appeared a bit late on which the duty judge showed dismay and directed Hamaz to make sure his presence on time on the next hearing going to be held on March 27.

Shahbaz Sharif, while talking to the media after the court proceedings, showed his reservations regarding treatment of his elder brother and former premier Nawaz Sharif. He warned that the government will be responsible if something happens to Nawaz. The government is showing carelessness in the treatment of Nawaz who is facing a serious health issue. He said Nawaz went through an open heart surgery one and a half years ago and the government must provide good health facilities to him.

He showed his anger on PTI’s recent bill in the Punjab Assembly regarding increase in salaries and perks of parliamentarians, saying that it is beyond his understanding. He claimed he didn’t receive a single penny from the national kitty in terms of salary and health expenses in his 10 years tenure as chief minister. He claimed that as the chief minister, he used his own private vehicles for travel. “I paid all expenses out of my own pocket,” he said.