ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Wednesday extended physical remand of former chief minister Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif, till December 6, on request of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Ashiana Housing scheme scandal, ARY News reported.
During hearing of the case today, NAB prosecutor told the court that a few ‘mysterious bank transactions’ were found linking to Shehbaz Sharif during probe of the case.
He further said that transit remand of Sharif hampered probe into the case in the recent days.
He told the court that the former CM was given a questionnaire from NAB regarding newly-found transactions; “but his reply was unsatisfactory.”
“Shehbaz Sharif replied to most of the questions, saying he didn’t remember or would ask his lawyer and submit the reply,” the NAB officer told the court.
The accountability watchdog officer said former CM distributed gifts among his closed ones costing Rs 60 million, against his declared income worth Rs 25 million. The NAB further said the former CM didn’t mention the gift amount in the tax returns of 2011.
The NAB later sought another extension in physical remand of Shehbaz Sharif.
Counsel of Sharif said that the NAB must tell whether there was any transaction that could be linked to corruption. He had requested the court to reject NAB plea for extension in physical remand.
The NAB had arrested Shehbaz Sharif in Rs 14 billion Ashiana housing society case on October 5.
According to NAB, “the contract for the housing scheme was won by a construction company titled Chaudhry Latif and Sons but former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif and his aides awarded the Rs 14 billion contract to Lahore Casa Developers – a proxy group of Paragon City (Pvt) Limited, which is said to be owned by Railways Minister Saad Rafique”.
“Fawad, who was implementation secretary to the chief minister Punjab at the time, levelled charges of wrongdoings against Chaudhry Latif and Sons in order for the contract to be awarded to Casa Developers.”
 informed the accountability court that a few ‘mysterious bank transactions’ were found involving Shehbaz Sharif.){kind=link}