PML-N's Khawaja Asif released from prison on bail

LAHORE (92 News) - PML-N leader Khawaja Asif has been released from the prison on bail.

Khawaja Asif has been released from prison, a day after the Lahore High Court (LHC) approved his bail in an assets-beyond known source of income case.

The PML-N leader was shifted to Lahore’s Jinnah Hospital earlier his health deteriorated. Jail officials went to the hospital with his release orders but the doctors advised him to stay in the facility for a few more days. He had undergone an eye surgery. Seeing the release orders, the jail police left the hospital.

Asif will stay at the hospital for some days. He was arrested in the case on December 29, 2020.

Earlier, the LHC granted bail to PML-N leader Khawaja Asif in the assets beyond income case. A bench comprising of Justice Aaliya Neelum and Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi heard the bail plea.

The NAB prosecutor stated Khawaja Asif had shown his assets worth Rs 50.59 million throgh a local business and there was a difference of Rs 159 million in his income and expenditures.

He said that Khawaja Asif had informed how much he earned though Iqama and his personal buisness. He contended that Khawaja Asif had misused his powers while holding a public office.

The prosecutor said that Khawaja Asif had not provided the proof of his means in Abu Dhabi.

On December 29, the NAB had arrested Khawaja Asif in the assets beyond means case.

According to the NAB, Khawaja Asif Asif held an iqama (work permit) from 2004 to 2008 and he had earned a total of Rs136 million for his services as a consultant legal adviser. Before being elected as senator in 1991, Khawaja Asif owned assets worth Rs5.1 million. By 2018, this figure had ballooned to Rs221 million.

He, according to the NAB, was running a 'benami' company in the name of his employee, Tariq Mir. A sum of Rs400 million was deposited in the bank account of the company, titled 'Tariq Mir and Company', but there was no information about the sources of income.