LAHORE - Chairman National Accountability Bureau Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal on Thursday claimed that no political party was being targeted since the authority had no political motives.

Referring to senior politicians, he said the people should take part in their election campaign but they should also appear before the anti-corruption watchdog when they are summoned.

“Keep this in your mind that only God is the most powerful. (For influential persons) All powers exhaust at the doorstep of NAB,” said Javed Iqbal talking to reporters outside the NAB headquarters in Lahore on Thursday.

When asked about different corruption cases being probed by NAB against the Sharif family, the chairman said that the legal proceedings are underway and this exercise consumes a lot of time. “I may be unable to answer this question in detail,” he said when asked about cases against Sharif family. “(Some people expect that) NAB will do the impossible. But we are working according to the law,” he said while referring to some media persons and analysts.

Responding to a question about investigations against Model Housing Society, the chairman said the NAB would not use any delaying tactics as far as investigation into corruption cases are concerned. “You must feel satisfied and your case will be heard properly and accordingly.”  The chairman also said that he had given the approval to bring back both Hassan and Hussain Nawaz Sharif through Interpol and the Lahore NAB’s DG would soon write a letter to the authorities concerned in this regard.

Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal also visited the NAB offices and reviewed progress on various mega corruption cases being probed by the anti-graft body. The NAB chief also met some affectees of a land scam outside the NAB headquarters and assured them that they would be provided justice at any cost.

The latest statement of the NAB chief comes barely a few hours after PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif complained that the “revenge tactics” adopted by NAB were an attempt to damage the election campaign of his party.

“Discriminatory action against candidates of political parties during the election campaign is undesirable. We have presented ourselves for accountability before the court of people. Let the people’s court pass it’s verdict on July 25,” Shehbaz said on his twitter account on Thursday. In a statement released to media, the former Punjab chief minister also expressed his concern over the arrest of PML-N candidate Islam Raja and said, “NAB’s action has raised questions on the fairness of the election process.” He alleged that the “revenge tactics” adopted by NAB were an attempt to damage the PML-N’s election campaign.

On the other hand, the National Accountability Bureau has called some key politicians to appear before “investigators” early next month. Political parties have already launched countrywide campaign ahead of general elections 2018.

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, PTI leader Aleem Khan and PML (Q) leader Moonis Elahi are summoned by the anti-graft body in connection with different corruption cases. The move comes days after the NAB officials arrested Qamar-ul-Islam Raja, a candidate of the PML-N for the National Assembly seat from Rawalpindi. Former MPA Raja was detained by NAB on Monday on corruption allegation in Saaf Pani Company case.

Meanwhile, former PML-N leader Zaeem Qadri on Thursday appeared before the investigators at NAB headquarters in Lahore in connection with the Saaf Pani Company case. According to sources, Qadri remained present at the NAB offices for two hours and left the headquarters after submitting his reply before the combined investigation team.