LAHORE, March 12: Editor-in-chief of Jang Group Mir Shakilur Rahman was arrested in Lahore by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday in a case pertaining to the purchase of a 54-kanal piece of land, said bureau spokesperson Nawazish Ali.
Rahman had appeared before NAB for the second time on Thursday to answer the bureau’s questions about the land in question. He was subsequently arrested after failing to satisfy officials with his answer.
According to NAB, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had illegally leased the land to Rahman in 1986.
NAB will produce Rahman in front of an accountability court tomorrow for his physical remand.
According to the notice issued on February 28, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, Rahman had been called to appear before NAB on March 5 to record his statement regarding the land allotted to him in 1986 in Block H, Johar Town Phase 2 “by then chief minister Punjab Mian Nawaz Sharif in violation of the relevant laws and rules”.
According to an official statement issued by the Jang Group, the property “was bought from a private party 34 years ago and all evidence of this was given to NAB”.
The statement maintained that today’s appearance was for the verification of the complaint, yet Rahman was arrested. It also accused the anti-graft watchdog of harbouring a vendetta against the publication.
“During the past 18 months, NAB has sent our reporters, producers, and editors […] over a dozen notices threatening to shut down our channels […] due to our reporting, and programmes about the anti-corrupton watchdog.”
“NAB has also, through several means, tried to persuade us to go slow, to stop stories and to do others in its favor at the expense of the full truth.
“We will not stop any reporter, producer or anchor from any story that is on merit, and at the same time will include NAB’s version,” the statement read, adding that the bureau has denied all the allegations and claimed they are independently pursuing all cases. – Agencies
