Shahbaz release a good sign for democracy: Zardari
islamabad — Former president Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday congratulated PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif after the latter was released from the ministers’ enclave in Islamabad .
“Shahbaz’s freedom a welcome sign for democracy,” said Zardari, adding that we (Pakistan People’s Party) have always raised our voice for the supremacy of the parliament.
The younger Sharif sibling was released on Friday evening after the National Accountability Bureau received court orders regarding his release.
A day earlier, his request for bail in the Ashiana-i-Iqbal Housing Scheme and Ramzan Sugar Mills cases had been granted by the Lahore High Court.
Zardari said “there were no political prisoners during the PPP’s government” and that the “politics of allegations ends up damaging the country.” The PPP co-chairperson also felicitated PML-N office holders and party workers at Shahbaz’s release. Shahbaz was taken into custody by the NAB in connection with the Ashiana Housing case on October 5, 2018.
He had been charged with misuse of authority by unlawfully assuming powers of the board of directors of the Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC), and awarding a contract to an ineligible proxy firm that resulted in the failure of the housing scheme.
The scam caused a loss to the public exchequer and deprived 61,000 applicants of houses.
It is also alleged that his directive to entrust the project of a housing scheme to the Lahore Development Authority from the PLDC and intervention into affairs of the company was in violation of the companies ordinance, memorandum and rules. —