Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz PML-N senior leader and former minister for planning, development and reforms Ahsan Iqbal has announced that he will file a defamation suit against the NAB chairman as NAB’s officers' assets should be probed in the same way as anti-watchdog is probing others, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.

Talking outside the NAB court in Islamabad, Ahsan Iqbal said that NAB intimidated the people and made false cases.

The NAB took government officials to the barracks and asked them to make a statement against him or rot in the jail for 90 days, he alleged and claimed the government officials told him how they were intimidated.

Islamabad Accountability Court Judge Asghar Ali heard the case against Ahsan Iqbal but Ahsan Iqbal could not be indicted in today’s hearing and the case hearing has been adjourned till December 22, the TV channel reported.

PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said the opposition will decide on the resignations in consultation with the PDM leadership.

“The option of resignations is a red card which will be shown and this government will be removed from the ring,” the PML-N leader said.

Ahsan said the case proceedings have been going on for the last one year contrary to the fact that NAB reference itself stated that such a sports facility was not available in the country before.

“Working for the promotion of sports in the country has become a conviction itself,” he added.

Ahsan Iqbal said there were no bribes, kickbacks and irregularities accusations in this case against him.

“I challenge Imran Niazi that you have the institutions. Prove any financial misconduct against me,” PML-N leader challenged Prime Minister Imran Khan.

It is pertinent to note that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on November 19 filed a reference against Ahsan Iqbal, former minister for planning, development and reforms and a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader, in the Accountability Court of Islamabad.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister of Pakistan on Political Communication commenting on the Ahsan Iqbal statement said misuse of power in Narowal Sports City is not a crime in Ahsan Iqbal’s eyes.

“The same mindset led the country to the worst situation. The project is a security risk as it is built only 800 meters away from the Indian border,” Dr Shahbaz Gill said.