Pakistan: Former Foreign Minister Khwaja Asif arrested in corruption case

The anti-corruption officers in Pakistan have arrested Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief and former overseas minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, on Tuesday for allegedly having belongings past technique of revenue. Marriyum Aurangzeb, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PM-N) spokesperson mentioned that he was taken into the custody by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
As per the assertion launched by NAB’s Lahore workplace, the arrest was executed in “assets beyond known sources of income case.” The bureau additional added that Asif had a Dubai work allow (iqama) from 2004 to 2008. During this era, he had earned a complete of PKR 136 million for his companies as a marketing consultant authorized advisor. In November, NAB had directed Asif to submit the main points of the wage he had acquired together with different info, however he had did not comply.
Pakistani each day Dawn cited NAB and mentioned that Asif was elected as senator in 1991. At that point his complete belongings have been price PKR 5.1 million. By 2018, his belongings elevated to a complete of PKR 221 million, which isn’t justifiable along with his sources of revenue. NAB additional mentioned that Asif was operating a Benami firm utilizing his worker, Tariq Mir’s identify. In Tariq Mir and Company’s account, a complete of PKR 400 million have been deposited, however there have been no revenue sources hooked up to the deposit. This 12 months, NAB had alleged that he established an unlawful housing complicated by the identify Kent Housing Society in Sialkot.
Nawaz Sharif’s response
The arrest of Khawaja Asif, who’s an in depth aide of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has stirred up the political area within the neighbouring nation. Former PM Nawaz Sharif in an announcement lashed out at Imran Khan’s authorities over his arrest and known as it a joke. In a tweet in Urdu, he mentioned, “The arrest of Khawaja Asif is morally wrong. The government’s bewilderment can be seen from such heinous acts. They are bringing their end closer.”
خواجہ آصف کی گرفتاری سلیکٹرز اور سلیکٹڈ کے گٹھ جوڑ کا انتہائی قابل مذمت واقعہ ہے۔ ایسی بھونڈی حرکتوں سے حکومتی بوکھلاہٹ کا اندازہ لگایا جاسکتا ہے لیکن ان حرکتوں سے یہ اپنے انجام کو مزید قریب لا رہے ہیں۔ اندھے سیاسی انتقام کے دن گنے جا چکے ہیں۔— Nawaz Sharif (@NawazSharifMNS) December 29, 2020
Talking to Geo News’s journalist Murtaza Ali Shah, Sharif mentioned that the arrest reveals the desperation of the federal government.
Khawaja Asif’s arrest in asset past means is a joke and reveals desperation of the government, @NawazSharifMNS says pic.twitter.com/sTmwvcFJwK— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) December 29, 2020
Sharif’s daughter and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz has known as the arrest “kidnapping by NAB.” In an announcement, she mentioned that ‘someone’ had known as Asif and requested him to cease supporting Nawaz Sharif. She added that the individual claimed that the instances in opposition to Asif could be dropped if he stops standing by Sharif. When Asif refused, he threatened him to be ready for the results.
میں حلفاً کہہ رہی ہوں خواجہ آصف صاحب کو کہا گیا کہ آپ نوازشریف کے بیانیے سے اختلاف کریں اور کہیں مجھے نوازشریف کے بیانیے سے اختلاف ہے آپ کے خلاف مقدمات 15,20میں ختم ہوجائینگےلیکن انہوں نےکہا آپ نےمجھے جو سزا دینی ہےدیں نہ میں نوازشریف کے بیانیےسے پیچھےہٹونگا نہ انکا ساتھ چھوڑونگا pic.twitter.com/i1jDsnWvP3— PML(N) (@pmln_org) December 29, 2020
Asif is now amongst a number of leaders going through corruption, together with celebration president Shehbaz Sharif, senior members Hamza Shehbaz, Rana Sanaullah, Javed Latif, Ahsan Iqbal, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Saad Rafique, amongst others. The arrest is being linked to the protests being organized by Pakistan Democratic Movement, an alliance of 11 opposition events, throughout Pakistan demanding Prime Minister Imran Khan’s resignation.