Lahore (November 10, 2018): Former chief minister Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif appeared before the accountability court in Lahore in Ashiana Iqbal Housing scheme case today.
Shehbaz, who has been in NAB’s custody since October 5 in connection to the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme case, was flown from Islamabad to Lahore earlier today today for his court appearance.
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A large number of PML-N workers have gathered outside the court premises and security has also been increased.
Strict security arrangements have been put in place with troops of Rangers, Anti-riot force and police deployed in the vicinity of accountability court tucked near civil secretariat.
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The NAB is likely to seek physical remand of Mr. Sharif. NAB officials say that their investigation faced a few obstacles due to transit remand of the PML-N leader that allowed him to attend National Assembly sessions.
Shahbaz Sharif’s counsel had requested the court that transit remand of his client be extended until Nov 10. His request was granted afterwards.
On October 29, an accountability court had granted the PML-N president a three-day transit remand to attend National Assembly sessions. The leader of the opposition in NA was then flown to Islamabad and his Minister’s Enclave residence had been declared sub-jail.
An accountability court in Islamabad had on October 31 extended Shehbaz’s transit remand till November 6 and then till November 10.As his transit remand ends today, Shehbaz will be presented before an accountability court in Lahore.
NAB has accused Shehbaz of misusing his powers while being the chief minister of Punjab in an inquiry pertaining to Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC).
On Oct 5, the NAB arrested Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) president and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly in the Rs14 billion Ashiayna-i-Iqbal Housing Scheme case.
He was detained by the anti-graft body at the accountability body’s Lahore office following a hearing in Punjab Saaf Pani Company.
The arrest of former Punjab chief minister followed shocking revelations of ex-principal secretary to PM, Fawad Hasan Fawad, who has become an approver in the cases against Shehbaz Sharif.Corruption allegations
According to the anti-graft body, Shehbaz cancelled the contract awarded to M/s Ch A Latif & Sons for infrastructure development of Ashiana Iqbal Housing Project and awarded it to CASA Developers.
“The former Punjab chief minister misused his powers and his actions caused a huge loss to the national exchequer,” the NAB prosecutor had said.
However, Shehbaz denied the allegations as “false and baseless”.
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