Pakistan opposition leader arrested ahead of by-elections
(dpa)
Islamabad (dpa) – Pakistan’s anti-graft agency has arrested the leader of the main opposition party on corruption allegations, officials said on Friday, ahead of by-elections for several parliamentary seats.
Shahbaz Sharif, president of Pakistan Muslim League party, was detained in the eastern city of Lahore by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), an official statement said.
Shahbaz Sharif, who is the younger brother of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was arrested on corruption allegations, the statement by the NAB added.
Shahbaz Sharif was the chief minister of Pakistan’s largest province of Punjab until this summer and is currently leading the opposition in the national parliament.
His elder brother, Nawaz Sharif, was released from a prison last month after a court overruled an earlier decision to arrest him on corruption charges.
Shahbaz Sharif's party said the arrest was an attempt by the administration of Prime Minister Imran Khan to undermine the group’s chances in the by-elections set for October 14.
Shahbaz Sharif was leading the campaign for the by-elections and the government was scared of opposition gains, party’s spokeswoman Marriyum Aurangzeb said.
The by-elections won't change parties' positions in parliament, but seen as a test for the popularity of the government, nearly two months after it took over in August.
The anti-graft body said Sharif would be brought to an accountability court on Saturday for indictme
Shahbaz Sharif was the chief minister of Pakistan’s largest province of Punjab until this summer and is currently leading the opposition in the national parliament.
His elder brother, Nawaz Sharif, was released from a prison last month after a court overruled an earlier decision to arrest him on corruption charges.
Shahbaz Sharif's party said the arrest was an attempt by the administration of Prime Minister Imran Khan to undermine the group’s chances in the by-elections set for October 14.
Shahbaz Sharif was leading the campaign for the by-elections and the government was scared of opposition gains, party’s spokeswoman Marriyum Aurangzeb said.
The by-elections won't change parties' positions in parliament, but seen as a test for the popularity of the government, nearly two months after it took over in August.
The anti-graft body said Sharif would be brought to an accountability court on Saturday for indictme