LAHORE, January 24: An accountability court on Thursday extended judicial remand of former chief minister Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif, Fawad Hasan Fawad and others in Ashiana Housing scheme scandal for fifteen days.
After hearing arguments from the prosecution, the court ordered that all accused in the case be produced on February 8.
Meanwhile, the accountability court also directed the investigators to furnish report on Ramzan Sugar Mills case probe within fifteen days.
The lawyer of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) turned up and informed the court that Shehbaz Sharif couldn’t be produced as he was in Islamabad to attend the National Assembly session,
The NAB lawyer requested the court to extend transit remand of Sharif due to production order issued by NA speaker for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader.
The hearing was adjourned till February 8.
On January 23, the Lahore High Court (LHC) approved the hearing of a bail plea filed by Opposition Leader of National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif in Ashiana Housing scandal and Ramzan Sugar Mills case.
The NAB had arrested Shehbaz Sharif on October 5 last year under corruption charges in Ashiana Iqbal scandal.
Sharif has also to face pending inquiries about Ramzan Sugar Mills and the assets beyond his means of income.
The leader of the opposition in the National Assembly was recently advised by doctors to resort to complete bed rest after deterioration of his health.
The housing scam
The NAB accuses the suspects of causing a loss of Rs 666 million to the national exchequer with their corruption in the low-cost housing scheme launched by the PML-N government in the province.
It alleged that Fawad misused his authority being secretary implementation of former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif and violated procurement rules to award contract of the housing scheme to a company of his choice. – DNA
