NAB chairman orders to file reference against Shehbaz at earliest

ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal has directed NAB Lahore to finalise a reference against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif in the Ashiyana-e-Iqbal housing scam at the earliest.

Chairing a high-level meeting at NAB Lahore office,Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal ordered the NAB team to complete investigation into Ashiyana-e-Iqbal and Paragon Housing Society scams and vowed to offer his complete cooperation in this regard.

He directed the NAB team to take stance in the court without any fear against protective bail of Khawaja brothers, said sources.

The sources said that NAB Chairman justice (retd) Javed Iqbal was brief over Paragon Housing Society and Ashiyana-e-Iqbal housing scams in the meeting.

The NAB chairman directed the Lahore office to finalize cases against the housing societies on emergency bases and take measures to bring back the suspects involved in the scams from abroad.

The NAB chairman reiterated his resolve that the anti-graft body will take action against the plunderers without any discrimination and will provide justice to people, said the sources.

Accountability court extends Shehbaz Sharif’s remand by 14 days

It is pertinent to mention here that the accountability court, on November 10, had approved 14-day extension in physical remand of former chief minister Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif, as requested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Ashiana Housing scheme case.

During the hearing, the accountability watchdog requested extension in physical remand of Sharif, stating that it couldn’t ‘properly’ investigate the former CM because of his frequent participation in the assembly sessions after his production orders were issued.