Shahbaz Sharif to be indicted in corruption case on February 18

lahore — Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) chief and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif, who is currently in a jail for his alleged role in a housing scheme scam, will be indicted on February 18 in the case, a media report said.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had taken 67-year-old Sharif, the younger brother of jailed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, into custody on October 5 in the Rs14 billion Ashiana-i-Iqbal housing project scam.

He is accused of allegedly cancelling the contract of a successful bidder in the scheme and awarding the same to his favourite firm. During Thursday’s proceedings, the court inquired why Sharif was not present, stating whether he was ill or had a PAC meeting, the Geo TV reported.

A police officer informed the court that Sharif was not well and also had a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Islamabad. At this the court stated that the police were just guardians and it was the state which was answerable on who had allowed Sharif to stay in Islamabad, adding that he was not granted the right to a medical so he wouldn’t appear in court, the channel said.

The NAB prosecutor said it was not the bureau’s responsibility to present Sharif but rather the police.

Sharif ’s lawyer informed the court that his client had an issue with his backbone and his doctor had advised him against long journeys.

The judge said Sharif was supposed to be indicted in the case today, to which the lawyer replied that there was no such order.

The court ordered for Sharif to be present during the next hearing and said that Sharif would be indicted on the next hearing. —