The National Assembly began its session at the parliament house in Islamabad today with Speaker Asad Qaiser in the chair.

Opposition Leader Shahbaz Sharif, who is in NAB custody these days in Ashiana Housing Scheme scandal, is attending the session on the production orders issued by the Speaker                                                                      

Taking the floor at the outset, Opposition Leader Shahbaz Sharif thanked the speaker for issuing his production order whilst rising above the party politics.  He, however, said it is the first time that an elected leader of the opposition has been arrested without any charges against him.

The opposition leader also criticized the registration of cases against him and other PML (N) leaders prior to the elections.                                   

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif has said the allegations leveled against him that he used his political influence to award contract of Aashina Housing Scheme are groundless.

Taking the floor of the National Assembly at the outset, he thanked the speaker for issuing his production order whilst rising above the party politics.  He, however, said it is the first time that an elected leader of the opposition has been arrested without any charges against him.

In his speech, the opposition leader shared details of the investigation carried out by the NAB officials from him.

Responding to points of Shahbaz Sharif, Law Minister Farogh Naseem said that National Accountability Bureau is an independent institution and the government is not interfering in its matters.

He said section 24 of NAB Ordinance gives blanket powers to the Accountability Bureau to arrest any person during inquiry and investigation.  He said the NAB exercised its power under this section to arrest Shahbaz Sharif.

The Law Minister said the lower House is not a court of law and it cannot declare the proceedings of NAB lawful or unlawful.

Other members both from treasury and opposition benches also expressed their views on overall situation in the country including the accountability process.

Maulana Assad said the government should come up with a concrete economic policy. He said there should be no political victimization.

Minister for Housing and Works Chaudhary Tariq Bashir criticized the policies of previous PML (N) government. He said as a result of these policies, the country today is faced with economic crisis. He said the present government is serious to cope with the current challenges.

Sardar Akhtar Mengal said the accountability process must go on but it should be across the board. He said those who breached the constitution should also be held accountable.

Khawaja Muhammad Asif said accountability should not be selective, rather, it should be across the board and objective. He said hostilities among political parties has led to derailment of democracy in the past and only a working relationship can ensure continuation of democratic process in the country. The house has now been prorogued.