NAB granted 10-day physical remand of Shehbaz Sharif in Ashiana Housing case
An accountability court on Saturday granted the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) a 10-day physical remand of former Punjab Chief Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif in the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme case.
Shehbaz was taken to NAB office in Thokar Niaz Baig after being remanded in the accountability bureau’s custody.
Earlier, the court had reserved its judgment on NAB’s plea to send the PML-N president on a 15-day physical remand.
The leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, who was arrested by NAB on Friday in the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme case, was produced before accountability court Judge Najmul Hasan.
The former Punjab chief minister was represented by Azam Nazeer Tarar and Amjad Pervez.
As Judge Najmul Hasan arrived in the courtroom, several PML-N workers were present owing to which he summoned Shehbaz, his lawyers and the NAB prosecutor in his chambers. The entry of unrelated persons and media coverage had been barred inside the accountability court.
When Judge Hasan began hearing the case in his chambers, the NAB prosecutor requested that Shehbaz be sent on a 15-day physical remand.
“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 NAB prosecutor upheld.
“The former Punjab chief minister misused his powers and his actions caused a huge loss to the national exchequer,” the NAB prosecutor told the accountability court judge. “Shehbaz needs to be further investigated in the case and should be sent on a 15-day physical remand,” he added.