NAB prepares 39 witnesses list in corruption case against Fawad Hassan Fawad

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has prepared a list of 39 witnesses in corruption reference against Fawad Hassan Fawad, principal secretary of ex-premier Nawaz Sharif, ARY News reported Thursday.

The NAB had filed a second reference against Fawad on Monday for possessing assets beyond known sources of income.

The NAB witnesses list included the officials of Foreign Affairs Ministry, SECP, FBR, Commissioner, cantonment employees, bank officials and bureaucrats.

Foreign ministry’s chief accountant Amjad Shah, establishment section’s official Zarnab Gul, Additional Joint Registrar Kashif Mehmood, Rizwan Saeed, Director Finance Civil Services Academy Muhammad Akhlaq and senior auditor A.G. Punjab are named in the witnesses list against Fawad Hassan Fawad.

The trial against Fawad will begin on April 02.

According to the NAB, Fawad is facing charges of accumulating assets worth Rs 1.9 billion with no declared sources of income.

The principal secretary of the former prime minister was arrested on July 5, 2018. The NAB said Fawad had an illegal plot of 5-kanal with a value of Rs 500 million.

“The accused is also a stakeholder in 15-storey plaza worth Rs 3.18 billion,” the NAB claimed.

The NAB Lahore had initiated inquiry against Fawad Hassan Fawad on October 12, 2018.

The chairman NAB had approved a second reference against Fawad on March 15, and it was formally filed on March 18, the accountability watchdog said.

The NAB had first taken Fawad into custody in July 2018 in the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme scandal.