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Ashiana housing scam: NAB challenges Shehbaz Sharif’s bail in SC

Ashiana housing scam: NAB challenges Shehbaz Sharif’s bail in SC
March 18, 2019 Web Desk

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday challenged the bail of Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif in the Ashiana housing scam cases.

It is pertinent to mention here that Shehbaz Sharif was granted bail in two cases by the Lahore High Court (LHC) on February 14. The NAB moved to the Supreme Court (SC) and challenged a bail granted to the opposition leader in Ashiana case. However, the anti-graft watchdog had already petitioned in the apex court against Shehbaz’s bail in Ramzan Sugar Mills’ case. The petition stated that the Lahore High Court (LHC) has not reviewed the facts and regulations in the Ashiana Iqbal housing scam case into right aspects. The SC had already defined standard for the provision of bail in NAB cases, adding that the high court’s verdict went contrary with the outlined standards set up by the judiciary. Shehbaz Sharif and Fawad Hassan Fawad are key accused in the case. Bails to the persons must be suspended after nullifying the LHC’s verdict, the petition pleaded the court.

LHC orders to release Shehbaz in Ashiana, Ramazan Sugar Mills cases
Earlier, the Lahore High Court (LHC) granted bail to Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif in the Ashiyana Housing Scheme and Ramazan Sugar Mills cases. The court ordered to release him after furnishing two surety bonds worth Rs one million. The two-member bench headed by Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed announced the verdict that was reserved earlier. The court rejected the bail plea of Fawad Hassan Fawad in assets beyond known sources of income case. However, he was granted bail in the Ashiyana Housing scandal. The court remarked that Shehbaz Sharif is not the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Ramazan Sugar Mills. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv2JgJDWvmE
LHC rejects NAB’s plea to transfer bail application of Shehbaz
Earlier, the LHC has dismissed the NAB plea for transferring the bail application of PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif to another bench. LHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan heard the plea. He remarked that allegations are already being leveled against the NAB. “Will the NAB get the bench formed of its own choice?” he questioned. The NAB prosecutor contended that a two-member bench headed by Justice Malik Shehzad is hearing the bail plea of Shehbaz Sharif and it could not hear the plea. He appealed to the court to send the bail plea of Shehbaz Sharif to a bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi. He said that the bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi had dismissed the bail pleas of co-accused.The NAB had arrested Shehbaz Sharif for misusing his powers in the Ashiyana Iqbal Housing Scandal and he is on judicial remand these days. Sharif, in the Ashiyana-i-Iqbal housing scam, is accused of cancelling the award of the project to successful bidder M/s Chaudhry Latif and Sons and instead obliging M/s Lahore Casa Developers (JV) — a proxy group of M/s Paragon City (Pvt) Limited, which the bureau claims was developed by former railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique.