Probe against Shehbaz enters crucial stage, NAB turns down family's meeting plea

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Sunday turned down the Sharif family’s plea for meeting with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif, saying that investigations against him in assets beyond means case have entered in crucial stage.

According to the details, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his other family members requested for permission to meet the PML-N president, who is currently in the accountability bureau’s custody in the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme case.

Whereas, the NAB authorities have rejected the plea, citing that the investigations against the suspect have entered in the concluding phase. Sources said that Shehbaz Sharif will be produced before the court tomorrow and the request will be considered, if the family will ask for meeting after the court proceedings.

The sources further said that the NAB prosecutor will seek extension in Shehbaz’s physical remand during the hearing.

Read More: NAB arrests Shehbaz Sharif in Ashiana housing scam

The NAB, on October 5, had arrested Shehbaz Sharif in Rs14 billion Ashiana housing society case.

The PML-N president was served summons many a times and he appeared that day to record his statement where he was taken into custody by NAB officials.

On October 24, the Lahore High Court had turned down, a petition seeking the release of the opposition leader. 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.

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.”