PM for special parliamentary committee to probe NAB allegation of money laundering against Nawaz

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbassi addressing the National Assembly. (Photo courtesy: Press Information Department) 
Updated 09 May 2018
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PM for special parliamentary committee to probe NAB allegation of money laundering against Nawaz

  • The prime minister read out the press release of the NAB, available on its website and termed it a very serious allegation
  • It was important that not only justice must be done; it must also be seen to be done, says Abbasi

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Wednesday took strong exception to a statement by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) that accused former Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif of sending US 4.9 billion dollars to India through money laundering and called for a special committee of the parliament to probe into the matter.

“The NAB chairman or his staff need to be summoned by the Parliament and asked how they got this information, what are their sources, what record do they have about the allegation?” he said on a point of order here at the National Assembly floor.

The prime minister read out the press release of the NAB, available on its website and termed it a very serious allegation. He said it had brought bad name to the country as the NAB chairman has accused the three-time elected prime minister of the country for being involved in money laundering funds to India.
He said he felt very concerned as he along with the leader of opposition Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah was the one who approved the name of Justice Retd Javed Iqbal to head the accountability bureau.
He said, “this is a very serious issue and a special committee of the parliament needs to be constituted under the Rule 244 to investigate the matter and bring the facts before the nation.”
Abbasi speaking about the ongoing cases of NAB against the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said he failed to see that the all requirements of justice were being met. He said it was important that not only justice must be done; it must also be seen to be done.
He said an amendment in the NAB laws was lying pending for quite some time and now his government was willing to go ahead with it to ensure that there was a check on NAB.


Kazakhstan president to explore trade, connectivity cooperation in first state visit to Pakistan this week

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Kazakhstan president to explore trade, connectivity cooperation in first state visit to Pakistan this week

  • Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to visit Pakistan from Feb. 3-4 with high-level delegation, says Pakistan’s foreign office
  • Kazakh president to meet Pakistani counterpart, hold talks with PM Shehbaz Sharif and address Pakistan-Kazakhstan Business Forum

ISLAMABAD: Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will explore bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in trade, regional connectivity, logistics and other sectors when he undertakes his first official visit to the country this week, Pakistan’s foreign office said on Monday. 

Tokayev will arrive in Pakistan leading a high-level delegation comprising senior cabinet ministers and high-ranking officials from Feb. 3-4, the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement. 

Tokayev is expected to meet his Pakistani counterpart President Asif Ali Zardari, hold talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and address the Pakistan-Kazakhstan Business Forum during the visit, the foreign office said. 

“The visit will provide the two sides an important and timely opportunity to undertake a comprehensive review of bilateral relations, discuss new avenues for broadening cooperation, particularly in trade, logistics, regional connectivity, people-to-people contacts, and explore collaboration at regional and international forums,” the statement said. 

The foreign office said Tokayev’s visit reflects the strengthening bonds between Pakistan and Kazakhstan, their mutual commitment to transforming historic and cultural affinities into robust cooperation, as well as their common desire for peace and progress in the region. 

Relations between Pakistan and Kazakhstan are rooted in shared Islamic heritage and a growing strategic partnership, with Pakistan offering landlocked Central Asian republics access to southern seaports for global trade. Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize Kazakhstan when it gained independence in December 1991 and formally established diplomatic relations with it on Feb. 24, 1992. 

The two countries have held regular interactions over the past couple of years on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meetings and other international events. Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Murat Nurtleu visited

Pakistan in September 2025 to discuss economic and trade cooperation with Islamabad. 

Islamabad and Astana engage with each other to promote business and political ties via three forums mainly, which are: Bilateral Political Consultations, the Intergovernmental Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation, and the Joint Business Council. 

According to the government of Kazakhstan, bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to $53.7 million in 2024. Pakistan’s main exports to Kazakhstan include citrus fruits, pharmaceutical products, garments, soap, sports equipment and gear and others.

Kazakhstan’s exports to Pakistan primarily include onions and garlic, dried leguminous vegetables, oats, buckwheat and other cereal grains, seeds and fruits of other oil-bearing crops, among others.