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 further than usually means of income. Marriyum Aurangzeb, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PM-N) spokesperson reported that he was taken into the custody by the Nationwide Accountability Bureau (NAB).

As for each the statement released by NAB’s Lahore business, the arrest was executed in “assets outside of recognised sources of profits situation.” The bureau even further extra that Asif experienced a Dubai operate permit (iqama) from 2004 to 2008. In the course of this time period, he had acquired a total of PKR 136 million for his services as a consultant lawful advisor. In November, NAB experienced directed Asif to submit the details of the salary he experienced gained alongside with other facts, but he had failed to comply.

Pakistani day by day Dawn cited NAB and reported that Asif was elected as senator in 1991. At that time his full belongings were being worth PKR 5.1 million. By 2018, his property improved to a complete of PKR 221 million, which is not justifiable with his sources of profits. NAB additional reported that Asif was operating a Benami enterprise utilizing his staff, Tariq Mir’s title. In Tariq Mir and Company’s account, a overall of PKR 400 million were being deposited, but there had been no income resources attached to the deposit. This calendar year, NAB had alleged that he proven an illegal housing intricate by the title Kent Housing Society in Sialkot.

Nawaz Sharif’s response

The arrest of Khawaja Asif, who is a shut aide of previous Pakistani Key Minister Nawaz Sharif, has stirred up the political arena in the neighbouring place. Previous PM Nawaz Sharif in a statement lashed out at Imran Khan’s federal government in excess of his arrest and called it a joke. In a tweet in Urdu, he explained, “The arrest of Khawaja Asif is morally erroneous. The government’s bewilderment can be found from these heinous functions. They are bringing their conclusion nearer.”

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

Speaking to Geo News’s journalist Murtaza Ali Shah, Sharif mentioned that the arrest demonstrates the desperation of the federal government.

Khawaja Asif’s arrest in asset beyond usually means is a joke and displays desperation of the govt, @NawazSharifMNS says pic.twitter.com/sTmwvcFJwK

— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) December 29, 2020

Sharif’s daughter and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz has identified as the arrest “kidnapping by NAB.” In a assertion, she claimed that ‘someone’ experienced identified as Asif and asked him to end supporting Nawaz Sharif. She added that the particular person claimed that the instances in opposition to Asif would be dropped if he stops standing by Sharif. When Asif refused, he threatened him to be geared up for the penalties.

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 amid a number of leaders struggling with corruption, such as get together president Shehbaz Sharif, senior customers Hamza Shehbaz, Rana Sanaullah, Javed Latif, Ahsan Iqbal, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Saad Rafique, among the other folks. The arrest is getting linked to the protests getting structured by Pakistan Democratic Movement, an alliance of 11 opposition get-togethers, throughout Pakistan demanding Primary Minister Imran Khan’s resignation.