LAHORE: An accountability court granted today (Saturday) the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) a 10-day physical remand of former Punjab Chief Minister in the Ahsiana Iqbal Housing Scheme case.
Earlier, the court had reserved its judgment on NAB’s plea to send the PML-N president on a 15-day physical remand.
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) team has produced Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif before accountability court.
The former Punjab Chief Minister was represented by Azam Nazeer Tarar and Amjad Pervez.
Judge Najmul Hasan summoned Shehbaz, his lawyers and the NAB prosecutor in his chambers as many PML-N workers were present in the courtroom. However, the entry of unrelated persons and media coverage are not allowed inside the accountability court.
As Judge Hasan commenced the hearing in his chambers, the NAB prosecutor requested the court to send Shehbaz on a physical remand.
The NAB prosecutor further said, “Shehbaz had canceled 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 former Punjab CM misused his powers and his actions caused a huge loss to the national exchequer,” the NAB prosecutor informed the court. “Shehbaz needs to be further investigated in the case,” he added.
On the other hand, Shehbaz denied the allegations as “false and baseless” and his counsels opposed the NAB prosecutor’s request to send him on a physical remand.
Shehbaz was brought to the accountability court in an armoured vehicle that was escorted by a fire brigade, an ambulance and police mobiles.
Shehbaz was on Friday arrested by NAB in Ashiana Iqbal Housing scheme. The bureau team left with Shehbaz in armoured vehicle an hour ago.
Scores of PML-N, who have gathered outside the accountability court, chanted pro-party and Shehbaz slogans upon the former Punjab chief ministers arrival.
Also read: Shehbaz behind the bars
Shehbaz, who is also leader of the opposition in National Assembly, was arrested as he appeared before the anti-corruption watchdog to record his statement in the Saaf Pani case.
“The National Accountability Bureau Lahore has arrested former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif in the Ashiana case. NAB will produce him in an accountability court on Saturday,” a press release issued by the NAB said.
Following the arrest, a large contingent of Rangers was deployed outside the NAB’s Lahore office.