NAB may present Shehbaz Sharif before court on Oct 29

LAHORE: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday considering to present PML-N President, Shehbaz Sharif, who is on remand over graft charges in Ashiana Housing Scam, before NAB Court on October 29, due to public holiday on October 30 on the Urs of Data Darbar, said sources.

As per details, consultation is underway to  present younger Sharif before Accountability Court on October 29 instead of October 30 , as it will be a public holiday in the province on the eve of Data Darbar’s annual Urs.

The bureau will seek an extension in physical remand of Shehbaz Sharif.

On October 24, the Lahore High Court turned down, a petition seeking the release of Shehbaz Sharif from NAB’s custody. During the hearing, Justice Ali Baqir Najfi remarked “every individual is free provided his freedom comes within the purview of law.”

The counsel of the petitioner contented that it was not justified to summon someone for an inquiry and then arrest him.

Shehbaz Sharif was taken into custody with incomplete proofs and without charges against him proved, the counsel said.

Ashiana Housing Scam

Fawad Hasan Fawad, former principal secretary to deposed PM, Nawaz Sharif, in his statement before NAB in August claimed that he had awarded a contract to a “favourite firm” in the Rs14bn Ashiana Housing project on Shahbaz’s behest.

The Bureau had summoned Shahbaz Sharif in the Ashiana Housing scam in August .

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, leveled charges of wrongdoings against Chaudhry Latif and Sons in order to award the contract to Casa Developers.”