National Assembly’s committee on audio leaks issued a strong reaction over the failure of former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar’s son to attend proceedings.

Najam Saqib had been summoned by the committee in connection with an audio leak containing a conversation around the alleged sale of PTI’s party tickets for the Punjab election.

The committee was chaired by Aslam Bhootani and also included officials from the Ministry of Law and the Federal Investigation Agency.

When Bhootani observed that Najam Saqib had not shown up, Sheikh Rohale Asghar proposed that officials from the Minsitry of Finance be called for a scrutiny of Najam’s assets.

“The Finance Ministry should be asked to scrutinise his bank accounts so we can decide whether to act against him,” Asghar said.

However, Khalid Magsi said that someone could not be punished simply because they had uttered a few words. He added that nothing had been said against any state institution.

Magsi added that it would first have to be established that a transaction that amounted to bribery actually took place.

Naz Baloch said that it Najam saqib should have honoured the summons.

“It seems that the former chief justice’s son considers himself the chief justice,” she said.

The committee asked for six-month bank statements of Najam Saqib and two other people to be submitted. Officials from the Finance Ministry have been instructed to furnish the record within 15 days.

Summons were issued to Najam Saqib with the indication that warrants could be issued if he failed to show up again.