LHC grants bail to Ahad Cheema in LDA city corruption case

LAHORE (92 News) – The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday granted bail to former Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director general Ahad Cheema in the LDA city corruption case. A two-member bench of the LHC headed by Justice Tariq Abbasi heard the bail plea of Ahad Cheema. The accused’s counsel told the court that Ahad Cheema has been arrested for 23 months and no reference of the LDA city has been submitted for a year and a half. The NAB prosecutor informed the court that the LDA city case is being closed, the Supreme Court (SC) has decided. He also mentioned that the LDA city has promised to give plots to all the victims. He also stated that the NAB has no objection if Ahad Cheema will be granted bail in this case. Later, the high court has granted bail to Ahad Cheema in the LDA city corruption case. Earlier, the former LDA director general was arrested over charges of misusing his authority and, with criminal intent, processing and awarding Ashiana-e-lqbal project contract in connivance with other accused persons in violation of PPP Act, 2014. The NAB inquiry further revealed that Bismillah Engineering Services Co (a major shareholder of JV titled Lahore CASA Developers) was a proxy firm working on behalf of Paragon City (Pvt.) Ltd. Cheema allegedly received illegal gratification in the form of 32 kanals of land from the owners of Paragon City (Pvt.) Ltd.