'NAB has concrete evidence against Shehbaz Sharif'
Probe revealed sufficient evidence to prove involvement of ex-Punjab CM in corruption case
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday while revealing the reasons behind arrest of PML-N and Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif, said that it has concrete evidence against the former Punjab CM.
In a statement issued by the anti-graft watchdog on Friday, he said that the Bureau had been conducting investigation of Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC) and Casa Lahore Casa Developers against Shehbaz Sharif and his arrest had been made after investigation.
The investigation revealed sufficient evidence to prove involvement of ex-Punjab CM in corruption cases.
Giving reasons of the opposition leader’s arrest, the anti-graft body said that Sharif misused his authority as the chief minister of the province and acted in connivance of then secretary to CM Punjab Fawad Hassan Fawad and others.
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 awarded the contract to Lahore Casa Developers – a proxy group of Paragon City (Pvt) Limited, which is said to be owned by Railways Minister Saad Rafique.
"The ex-Punjab CM in a meeting dated 21 10 2014 unlawfully directed PLDC to entrust the project of Ashiana lqbal Punjab to LDA This decision of accused was illegal and mala fide as PLDC was the company which was established for undertaking such housing projects," the statement added.
The Saaf Pani Company was established by the PML-N president during previous Punjab government to conceive, plan, design, execute and manage projects for the provision of safe drinking water in terms of both access and quality, to communities living in rural areas of the province.
Shehbaz s son-in-law Ali Imran Yousuf is also facing corruption inquiries in the same case. He has fled to the UK and the NAB has written to the interior ministry to bring him back from abroad through Interpol.
The opposition leader s son Hamza had also been probed by the NAB for presiding over the company s board of directors meetings many times to issue directions for award of contracts to favourite firms.
