LAHORE: An accountability court allowed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to keep custody of former DG Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Ahad Cheema and Shahid Shadique for 7 more days during a hearing on Friday.
NAB officials presented the accused Ahad Cheema, private firm owner Shahid Shafique, chief engineer PLDC Bilal Qadwai and Imtiaz Ahmed before an accountability court earlier today in Ashiana Iqbal housing scandal after their previously granted remand period came to an end.
NAB prosecution told the court that 21 kanal land worth Rs70 million in Paragon City was bought in Ahad Cheema’s wife Saima Ahmed’s name. Moreover, the watchdog representative said that during investigation, it was revealed that Cheema also made an investment worth Rs40 million in Punjab College Dera Ghazi Khan, while he also purchased residential property in Islamabad.
Cheema’s counsel said that the accused has been in NAB custody for over 80 days, but no evidence has been presented against him. He added that the watchdog initiated investigation after arresting Cheema, which is against the law and hence, the request demanding extension in remand period be dismissed.
After hearing statements from both sides, the court granted 7-day remand extension of Ahad Cheema and Shahid Shafique and directed the authorities to present them on May 18. The other two accused, Bilal Qadwai and Imtiaz Ahmed, were sent into NAB remand for 14 days and will be presented before the court on May 25.