Court extends Shahbaz’s remand by 14 days over scam
The brother of Nawaz Sharif was arrested over Rs14b housing project scam
APakistani court yesterday extended the remand of PML-N chief and opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif by 14 days in the Rs14 billion (Dh387 million) housing scam.
Shahbaz, 67, the younger brother of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on October 5 in the Ashiana-e-Iqbal housing project scam. He was remanded to a 10-day custody to NAB.
The former Punjab chief minister was brought to the accountability court amid high security. A large number of PML-N workers were also present at the court premises.
He told the accountability court judge Najamul Hasan that he had committed no illegality in the award of the contract in the housing project.
He also said the NAB was unable find any evidence against him during his 10-day remand.
Shahbaz asked why the NAB wanted an extension of his remand when he was fully cooperating.
“No NAB official investigated me in the last three days,” he said.
“I have served the country and saved billions of rupees in different development projects during my tenure as chief minister [2008-2018],” he said.
Shahbaz’s counsel opposed the extension of his remand, saying the NAB has failed to present any proof of his involvement in the scam.
“Therefore the NAB’s plea for further extension to his client’s remand be dismissed,” he said, adding that the case against Shahbaz had been instituted on “political grounds” as he had not issued any illegal orders being the chief minister.
The NAB prosecutor requested the court to grant extend Shahbaz’s remand, which was accepted.
The court remanded Shahbaz into NAB’s custody until October 30).
Shahbaz is accused of ordering the cancellation of a contract given to successful bidder Chaudhry Latif and Sons in order to oblige his ‘favourite’ — Lahore Casa Developers — resulting in a loss of Rs193 million to the exchequer.