Bail for two in housing scam case deferred

Prosecutor says accused caused losses to exchequer through Ashiana Iqbal scheme

Pakistan’s Supreme Court yesterday adjourned bail hearings for two people accused in the corruption case pertaining to the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme, until November 29.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Azmat Saeed heard the bail pleas filed by Munir Zia and Imtiaz Haider in the housing scheme scandal. During the course of proceedings, the assistant counsel of the suspects informed the bench that senior counsel Azam Nazeer Tarrar was busy with SC’s Lahore Registry due to which he could not appear before the court. He requested the court to adjourn hearing of the case for three days.

Addressing the NAB prosecutor, Justice Azmat Saeed asked, “What really is the case about?” The prosecutor replied that the accused persons had caused a loss to the national exchequer through the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme, adding that the contract of the scheme was awarded to a company named CASA despite someone else had won the bidding.