LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore office Wednesday summoned Fawad Hasan Fawad, principal secretary to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the Ashiana Housing Scheme case. According to sources, Fawad has been summoned as a witness and is expected to appear before the NAB at 10am today (Thursday). The order – issued on behalf of NAB Lahore’s director general – said: “The inquiry against Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC) and Lahore Development Authority (LDA) officials among others had revealed that you are in possession of information / evidence regarding award and cancellation of contract in respect of Ashiana-e-Iqbal Project launched by the PLDC.” “In view of the reasons mentioned above, Fawad Hasan Fawad has been “called upon to appear before the Combined Investigation Team (CIT)” in order “to record statement”. Talking to a press conference after his appearance before the committee, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz said that he could have issued a written statement to the NAB, but appeared before the group since he was a law-abiding citizen, adding: “The summons by the body were based on ill intentions.” CM Shehbaz stated that during his meeting with the committee, he asked numerous questions regarding the case but the probing unit had no answer to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader’s queries. He also said that he had a responsibility as the CM to ensure government functions properly, while he also asked the attendees whether saving money for the nation was a crime. “As the chief minister, I am the in-charge of the province, the government functions due to performance. Is it a crime to save money for the nation?” asked Shehbaz. THE NAB had issued a notification on January 17, saying that an inquiry was being conducted against official of Development Company (PLDC), Lahore Casa Developers, Lahore Development Authority and others pertaining to the housing scheme case. Published in Daily Times, February 15th 2018.