Ashiana Housing scam: Bench formed to hear plea against Cheema's arrest dissolved
The new bench will now conduct the proceedings in next week.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – The two-member bench formed to hear petition challenging the arrest of former head of the Lahore Development Authority Ahad Khan Cheema dissolved on Saturday.
Following this, Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar formed a new bench comprising of Justice Qasim Ali Khan and Justice Tariq Abbasi who will conduct fresh hearing over the plea.
Previously, the former bench headed by Justice Ali Baqir Najfi had reserved its decision over Cheema’s petition. The new bench will now conduct the proceedings in next week.
On February 23, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested Cheema over his alleged involvement in Lahore’s Ashiyana-i-Iqbal Housing Society scam.
The former DG LDA failed to appear before the NAB despite several summons after which he was arrested from his office on MM Alam Road.
NAB took action earlier this year after complaints surfaced regarding an ‘illegal deal’ between Paragon Housing Scheme and the Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC).
The bureau had alleged that over Rs1.2 billion loss was caused to the national treasure in violation of the rules and regulations.
Ashiana Housing Scheme was an initiative of the Punjab government to provide economical residential facilities to the people with low-incomes. The provincial authorities had invested Rs 2 billion while acquiring 672 kanal land of Baba Noor Shah shrine.
