Imran Khan “100%” behind my arrest, says PML-N lawmaker Khawaja Asif

PML-N leader Khawaja Asif claimed Wednesday that Prime Minister Imran Khan was “100%” behind his arrest, adding that this was an attempt to weaken party supremo Nawaz Sharif.

Asif was arrested by NAB Tuesday night in a case pertaining to acquiring assets beyond means of income. The party had gathered at PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal’s house in the federal capital for a huddle which was being attended by PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz.

Talking to reporters outside an accountability court in Islamabad, Asif said attempts have been made to break the party in the last two-and-a-half years.

When a reporter asked Asif to elaborate on a statement made by Maryam claiming that the Asif had been told all cases against him would be written off if he stood against Nawaz Sharif, the ex-defence minister said: “This is what we are all being told.”

Asif added that the case has been pending for over two years now. “I was given a charge sheet that assets increased but NAB has so far not investigated the matter. I have been facing this case for over two years, first in Rawalpindi then in Lahore.”

Asif has been accused of accumulating assets beyond known sources of income.

He was presented before an accountability in Islamabad, where the judge asked NAB prosecutor Sohail Arif which court the PML-N stalwart would be tried in.

The NAB prosecutor said Asif would be presented before the NAB court in Lahore.

At this, the counsel for Asif, Barrister Jahangir Khan Jadoon, contended that his client should be released as the case against him had no grounds.

Jadoon said an inquiry against Asif had been initiated and then closed by the NAB’s Rawalpindi chapter in 2018, adding that in fact “a case could be registered against the NAB”.

He informed the court that the NAB had not provided him with arrest warrants, nor were the grounds for the arrest shared.

Granting the NAB a transit remand of Asif, the court directed the anti-graft watchdog to provide Asif’s counsel the arrest warrant and grounds for the arrest.

PML-N leaders Marriyum Aurangzeb and Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha were allowed to meet Asif at the court.