Daily Times

shahbaz-sharif (1)Accountability Court (AC) Lahore has summoned PML-N President Mian Shahbaz Sharif on August 27 in money laundering reference.

The court has also directed the jail authorities to produce Hamza Shahbaz and other arrested accused on August 27.

Judge Jawad ul Hassan of AC Lahore took up money laundering reference against Shahbaz Sharif family for hearing Friday.

On inquiring by the court NAB prosecutor told 16 accused including Shahbaz Sharif , Hamza Shahbaz and Suleman Shahbaz are named in the reference. They are charged with becoming involved in money laundering of over Rs 7 billion. 4 approvers are also included therein.

NAB prosecutor informed the court Shahbaz, Suleman Shahbaz, wife Nusrat Shahbaz and both the daughters including Rabia Imran and Javeria Ali have not joined investigation.

The court ordered that the investigation officer should tell on the next hearing what are the evidence against these accused and why they have not been arrested.

The court remarked the investigation should assist it in the matter of summoning these accused on next hearing.

The court while adjourning the hearing of the case summoned Shahbaz Sharif, Hamza Shahbaz, Qasim, Qayyu, CFO Muhammad Usman, Fazal Dad Abbasi and others on August 27.

Meanwhile, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday launched an investigation into contracts allotted during tenure of current Chief Minister of Punjab (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar.

According to sources, the anti-graft watchdog has sought record from Lahore Development Authority (LDA), Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency (TEPA) and other departments in this regard.

The bureau has also directed the concerned authorities to submit details of key development projects’ contracts.

Earlier, CM Buzdar had appeared before NAB Lahore office in a case of allegedly issuing liquor license to a hotel in violation of the law.

Usman Buzdar handed over all the documents regarding issuance of liquor license to the anti-corruption bureau and said, “I don’t know anything as I am not prepared. Give me time to think and answer these questions”.

Meanwhile, former director general (DG) Excise Akram Ashraf Gondal also recorded his statement and claimed he had informed Chief Minister Office that issuance of the liquor license will be against the policy and rules as NOCs were not complete.

However, he approved the license on the request of then Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Raheel Ahmed Siddiqui.

Former DG Excise Akram Ashraf Gondal had also submitted an application to become approver in the case.

Also, NAB Peshawar has summoned Zia ur Rehman brother of Maulana Fazl ur Rehman on August 25.

Zia ur Rehman is charged with accumulating of assets beyond known sources of income, Making illegal recruitments and committing corruption in purchase of machinery..

The NAB has summoned him on August 25 in its office for investigation.