NAB under fire in NA over 'ruthless' probe methods.

Byline: Syed Irfan Raza

ISLAMABAD -- The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was blamed in the National Assembly on Friday for using ruthless methods of investigation against accused of white-collar crimes. Prime Minister Imran Khan's U-turn remarks and negotiations between the government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout package also came under discussion during the session.

The house also condemned an abortive terrorist attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi and stressed that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project should not be made controversial.

Take a look: NAB lock-ups are like torture cells, says PML-N

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif endorsed a proposal of his own party leader Rana Sanaullah for forming a parliamentary committee that should visit the NAB office to ascertain whether the bureau was using inhumane tools against the accused. 'I think the formation of the committee will help restore peaceful political atmosphere in and outside the house. This will also benefit NAB,' he added.

Opposition demands committee to ascertain allegations against anti-graft watchdog

Talking about Mr Khan's recent remarks regarding U-turns, Mr Sharif said the prime minister should avoid passing such remarks as these could shatter confidence of other countries in Pakistan and its government. 'I cannot understand the logic behind the PM's statement. Now if the country's foreign minister signs an agreement with any country the same country can raise a question that Imran Khan can wrap it up in the name of U-turn,' he added.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president said the government should honour the agreements made under the CPEC and avoid giving any statement against the project. 'Whatever has been done in the past should not be repeated,' he said, urging members of the treasury benches to avoid passing harsh remarks about the CPEC.

Another PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique, who is also facing a NAB case, said the bureau was using torture as a tool against the accused to get statements favourable to it. He also accused the anti-graft watchdog of operating a torture cell in Lahore and claimed that drugs were given to the accused so that they could not give statements against NAB in courts.

'When NAB failed to get anything against me, my friend Qaisar Amin Butt was given drugs so that he could not say anything against NAB in court,' he said.

Mr Rafique asked the speaker...