PML-N President and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif has termed the delay in release of inquiry report into wheat and sugar scams as the result of “connivance”.

Shehbaz Sharif was reacting to reports that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been given another two weeks to complete the inquiry into sugar and wheat scandals. The initial report into the scams had pointed fingers at Prime Minister Imran Khan’s close aide Jahangir Khan, Federal Minister Khusru Bakhtiar and others.

In his statement on Sunday, Shehbaz Sharif said non-disclosure of the final report tantamount to the “confession” of the crime by Imran Niazi Sahab and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. “Those who gave the approval in Cabinet and in ECC and those who sanctioned the subsidy are responsible for this,” he added.

The PML-N president said the delay in the final inquiry report confirmed the Rs100 billion “dacoity” by the government. “The delay in the reports is actually aimed at saving the real culprits,” he added.

“Imran cannot hide his crime by delaying the report. Now the inquiry commission is not impartial as the scams do not require further inquiry or forensic,” he said and added “Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Khurram Dastagir should be allowed to appear before the inquiry commission as their statements will make the things crystal clear.”