NAB arrests Shehbaz Sharif in Ramzan Sugar Mills case

Shehbaz Sharif, who was arrested by NAB on October 5, was on transit remand till November 10.

LAHORE (Dunya News) – National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Saturday has arrested Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif in Ramzan Sugar Mills case.

Shehbaz Sharif, who was arrested by NAB on October 5, was produced before the court after his transit remand to attend the National Assembly (NA) session expired. 

During the hearing, NAB prosecutor Waris Ali Janjua informed the court that Ahad Cheema had also prepared a feasibility report by himself. He said the investigation into the scam is not completed yet due to busy schedule during NA session.

Meanwhile, harsh words were also exchanged between the PML-N president and investigation officer.

Shehbaz’s lawyer Amjad Pervez told, “NAB launched inquiry into Ashiana Housing scandal on January 19, summoned the accused on January 22 and arrested him on October 5.”

The court briefly reserved its verdict and announced it granting NAB another 14-day physical remand of PML-N president.

Earlier on October 15, NAB had interrogated Shehbaz Sharif regarding CASA Developers and Paragon City scandals prior to his appearance in the court. Ex-Chief Minister of Punjab (CM) said he himself ordered investigation into corruption allegations in Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Scheme.

Shehbaz Sharif’s arrest

NAB had arrested Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in the Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Scheme scam on October 5. The former chief minister was charged with awarding illegal contracts to his favorite firm.

He was apprehended during his appearance before NAB in Saaf Pani Company scam. Sources told that three files were tabled before him. The bureau quizzed Sharif regarding a tender awarded to a private consultancy company for a survey of the Saaf Pani company.

The PML-N president had failed to satisfy the probing team of the bureau during the investigation and was ultimately arrested.

The anti-graft watchdog had claimed that the company did not conduct any kind of survey but nevertheless was provided a lucrative sum of Rs 1.5 billion.

Ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s principal secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad became an approver in the case. Fawad Hassan Fawad, in his statement before NAB, had claimed that he had awarded a contract to a “favourite firm” in the Rs14 billion Ashiana Housing project at the behest of Shahbaz Sharif.

The anti-graft agency said that the contract for the housing scheme was won by a construction company titled Chaudhry Latif and Sons but Sharif cancelled it and later on awarded the contract to Lahore Casa Developers – a proxy group of Paragon City (Pvt) Limited, which is said to be owned by ex-Railways Minister Saad Rafique”.