ISLAMABAD: Former Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) chairman Asif Hashmi was taken into custody from the Supreme Court (SC) premises on Thursday following his appearance in a case regarding embezzlement in an ETPB deal.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested the former ETPB chairman from the apex court, where he had appeared for a case related to embezzlement of around Rs1.5 billion in an ETPB deal.
A three-member bench of SC was dealing with the case that was initiated over the sale of ETPB land on which the then-chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry also took suo motu notice.
Earlier on February 10, Asif Hashmi was sent back to Pakistan to face charges of embezzlement in the SC after remaining in custody of the Dubai authorities since 2016.
According to reports, Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai prepared the required documents so that he could fly to Pakistan as a case against him is underway in the SC.
Asif Hashmi allegedly sold the ETPB 1,946 Kanals of land to DHA on 25 per cent exemption basis in 2009, whereas the same land was recommended by former ETPB chairman Gen Zulfiqar Ali Khan on 33 per cent exemption basis to DHA in 2001.
The land was situated in Dera Chahal, Lidher and Mota and difference of 8 per cent caused loss of Rs 2 billion while another 225 Kanals was evacuated from DHA which was occupied with the connivance of ETPB officials and Hashmi team.
Hashmi, who is a leader of Pakistan Peoples Party, served as the chairperson of ETPB between 2007 and 2013. After completing his tenure he left for Dubai in April 2016.
