NAB chairman criticises 'unequal' medical facilities for different people in Pakistan

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Javed Iqbal, while addressing an event in Islamabad, said that while multiple people were sharing a single hospital bed in the country, there were others who were going abroad - "London or US" - for treatment "if they get a cold".

"Are the rest not humans [...] God has created everyone equal," he said.

The chairman did not refer to anyone in particular but his remarks come only hours after former prime minister Nawaz Sharif departed from Lahore to London for medical treatment.

The PML-N supremo, who has been diagnosed with an immune system disorder, was transported in an air ambulance that arrived at Lahore airport's Haj Terminal early morning from Doha. Nawaz is convicted in two NAB corruption references, acquitted in one and is currently facing a fourth one.

In another apparent critique of opposition political parties, Iqbal said that it was unfortunate that a child had died in his mother's lap due to the unavailability of the rabies vaccine in hospitals.

He was referring to a video which went viral on social media in September. It showed a horrific incident in Shikarpur where an 11-yearold child died of rabies in his mother's lap. The NAB chairman said that while the child was unable to get the vaccine on time, the budget for the [concerned] government was valued at millions of rupees.

"One province uses its card, the other uses its card. Believe me, this will not have an affect on NAB. NAB has to continue its work," he said.

The NAB chief appeared to be referring to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government in Sindh where multiple cases of death due to dog bites have been reported recently along with reports of shortage of the rabies vaccine.

During his address, Iqbal said that he was not complaining about the criticism levelled against NAB.