NAB presents Shehbaz before accountability court after 10-day remand

LAHORE (92 News) – The National Accountability Bureau presented former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif before an accountability court today, after his 10-day remand ended. Strict security arrangements are in place on the routes leading to the court's premises with blockades installed in several places. Citizens commuting to office and schools are facing severe inconvenience. A day earlier, the NAB interrogated Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif before his appearance in the Accountability court. 92 News revealed the details of NAB interrogation with the opposition leader in National Assembly. According to the sources privy, the NAB investigators questioned Shehbaz Sharif in cases regarding to CASA Developers and Paragon City. The NAB investigator asked whether the former Punjab chief minister was aware of Khawaja Saad Rafique’s affiliation with the Paragon project. “Did any board member or any person of PLDC inform you about the connection between Paragon and CASA Developers?” The investigation officer also asked Shehbaz that had Saad requested to support CASA Developers in any meeting. However, the sources said that the former Punjab chief minister expressed unaware about many questions. Answering the questions, Shehbaz said that he had never discussed about illegal steps regarding Ashiana Iqbal with Saad in any meeting, adding that he did not know if any official of PLDC or LDA took bribe. He remarked that he acted upon a policy of zero tolerance against the corruption. The opposition leader said he himself ordered investigation into corruption allegations in Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing scheme, adding that he was innocent. The NAB investigation team will present the investigative report in the Accountability Court tomorrow. The sources also said that the NAB will try to seek more remand from the court. Shehbaz Sharif was arrested in a graft case by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on October 5. He has been charged with awarding illegal contracts to his favourite firm in the Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing scheme. NAB investigators quizzed Shehbaz Sharif regarding a tender awarded to a private consultancy firm for feasibility of Saaf Pani Company.