Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has been asked to appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) tomorrow.
The PML-N leader will not come alone, however; she will be accompanied by the PDM leaders and her supporters and go to NAB via Canal Road from Model Town.
NAB, on the other hand, fears a repeat of the previous hearing when Maryam and her supporters clashed with police officials outside the headquarters at Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore, resulting in the postponement of the hearing. It requested the high court to bar Maryam from bringing more than people — the plea was rejected.
But still, NAB is prepared this time. Its premises and surroundings have been declared ‘red zone’ with Rangers and contingents of the police deployed in the area. The Punjab government is fully prepared this time to avert any untoward situation and save NAB.
But tensions are running high. The opposition leaders have accused the government of using NAB to trying to silence Maryam Nawaz. It also warned the government against creating trouble.
Speaking to reporters, PPP leader Qamaruz Zaman Kaira said the opposition leadership wasn’t marching on NAB. “We are only going with her express solidarity,” it added.
It seems like the rally will serve other purposes in addition to putting pressure on the government. The PPP becoming part of the rally will show that the alliance is intact and that the opposition was united in its struggle against government.
Hamza, who was recently released on bail, will also join his cousin and de-facto party president. His appearance will put all rumours of a divide within to rest. It is being claimed that Maryam and Hamza are not on the same page regarding no-trust move against Buzdar government among other things.
In August last year, Maryam along with her supporters appeared before NAB that resulted in clashes with police officials deployed outside the NAB headquarters. Maryam had termed the violence “state-sponsored terrorism” and said the government is “afraid of losing grip on power”.
The NAB had said it had never in its 20 years of existence ever experienced such “hooliganism” whereby its offices were vandalised by the PML-N workers.
