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  • PPP against discrimination, not accountability: Kaira

    PPP against discrimination, not accountability: Kaira PPP against discrimination, not accountability: Kaira

    Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Qamar Zaman Kaira on Thursday said that they are not against accountability, but they should also not be discriminated against.

    Speaking at a press conference here, the PPP leader recalled the arrest of former Sindh minister Sharjeel Memon by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials at Islamabad airport.

    In March, a NAB team took Memon into custody as his flight landed at Islamabad airport. The former provincial minister, who faces charges of corruption worth nearly Rs6 billion, had returned home after over two years in self-imposed exile in Dubai and London and was released after brief detainment.

    "Memon was not allowed to step down from the plane," Kaira said, adding that there should be no discrimination in the process of accountability.

    He also announced that his party will hold a rally in Islamabad on December 5.

    Taking exception to the Tehreek-e-Insaf leadership, the PPP leader said Imran Khan should see the people standing beside him.

    "The PTI chief speaks against corruption, making his 'ATM machine' stand next to him," he remarked.

    Kaira called on Khan to exclude individuals facing corruption cases from his party's ranks.

    On October 23, Memon was arrested by the NAB after hours of being holed up in court premises. He was taken into custody as he left the court. Memon was shifted to NAB headquarters Sindh after being escorted from court.

    "The accused persons are charged with embezzlement of Rs5,766,479,766 purportedly paid to seven advertising agencies for awareness campaigns between 2013 and 2015," said a press release by NAB.

    The accused persons jointly and severally in connivance with each other have been alleged for awarding the contracts to favour certain advertising agencies and to their own favour, in violation of relevant laws and rules and against exorbitant rates," added the release.

    He was attempting to avoid being arrested by NAB after the cancellation of his bail extension plea by the Sindh High court.

    Memon, who returned to Pakistan in March this year after ending his near two-year-long self-imposed exile, was arrested on his arrival by NAB but later obtained bail.

    The other accused in the case include bureaucrats, officials of the information department and members of private advertising agencies.

    Memon claims the charges against him are politically motivated.