The opposition parties on Friday submitted a privilege motion in the National Assembly against the various television interviews given by the director general of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore.
Citing a breach of the privilege of the members of the opposition in the National Assembly, the motion objects to the “media trial” of the opposition members and urges “immediate intervention” of the House.
“Mr Saleem Shehzad, DG NAB Lahore with the consent of the Chairman NAB has appeared on the following TV programs of which the documentary evidence is available,” reads the motion, listing a number of TV programs which interviewed the NAB official.
“He has conducted a media trial of opposition members, attempted to influence the so-called cases against the members of the National Assembly, provided details of the matters that are sub-judice, revealed details of confidential and secret NAB documents and maligned the reputation of the members of the Parliament,” the motion states.
“This matter requires the immediate intervention of the National Assembly and should be taken today,” it adds.
DG NAB Lahore Saleem Shehzad in an interview on Thursday night, where he said that the NAB would file a reference against Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif by the end of this month.
The official also accused Shehbaz's son-in-law Ali Imran of depositing official cheques in his personal account.
He said that a case registered against Punjab minister Aleem Khan was being investigated. Some documents were required from abroad in the case relating to Khan and a verdict would be announced once those documents were received, he added.
Shehzad further said that if needed in any case, Chaudhry brothers and Moonis Ilahi would be taken into custody.