NAB challenges Shehbaz Sharif's bail in Ashiana housing scam case

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday challenged the release of the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif who was granted bail in two cases by the Lahore High Court (LHC) on February 14, ARY News reported.

The anti-corruption watchdog moved to the Supreme Court (SC), where it has challenged a bail granted to Shehbaz Sharif in Ashiana housing society scam cases.

It is pertinent to mention here that the NAB had already petitioned in the apex court against Shehbaz’s bail in Ramzan Sugar Mills’ case.

Moreover, the NAB has also challenged bail of Fawad Hassan Fawad.

Read More: NAB to challenge Shehbaz Sharif’s bail in Supreme Court

The petition stated that the Lahore High Court (LHC) has not reviewed the facts and regulations in the [Ashiana Iqbal housing scam] case into right aspects.

The top court had already defined standard for the provision of bail in NAB cases, adding that the high court’s verdict went contrary with the outlined standards set up by the judiciary.

Shehbaz Sharif and Fawad Hassan Fawad are key accused in the case. Bails to the persons must be suspended after nullifying the LHC’s verdict, the petition pleaded the court.

On February 14, the Lahore High Court had approved the bail plea of Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, ordering his release.

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Malik Shahzad and Justice Mirza Waqas had given the verdict while hearing the bail petitions.

Read More: LHC grants bail to Shehbaz, orders release

On February 21, the high court had released a 22-page detailed verdict in the Ashiana Housing scandal and a 20-page decision on the Ramzan Sugar Mills case.

In its detailed verdict, the court said the board of Punjab Land Development Authority was behind transferring a project contract to Lahore Development Authority. However, the NAB had claimed the former chief minister had misused his authority to transfer the project.

The court said no charge of financial irregularity was imposed on Shehbaz in the Ashiana case.

Similarly, the former CM has also not been accused of any financial irregularity in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case.

According to court, the NAB had raised objection only on one project regarding construction of a drain line and it was constructed on plea of MPA Rehmatullah. “The NAB, instead of investigating the role of MPA, made him a witness,” the court stated.