Court grants 7-day physical remand of Shahid Shafiq in Ashiana Housing scam

LAHORE: An accountability court on Monday handed over accused Shahid Shafiq, chief executive of Bismillah Engineering Services, to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on physical remand till March 5 in the Ashiana Housing scheme scam.

Earlier, the accused was presented amid strict security before accountability court judge Syed Najamul Hassan on expiry of his one-day physical remand.

The NAB prosecutor requested the court to grant a 15-day physical remand of the accused for the collection of evidence and carrying out investigations in accordance with law.

However, a defence lawyer opposed the request stating that the accused was allegedly tortured. He requested the court to issue directions for medical examination of the accused.

He further requested the court to adjourn the matter for one-day as the senior defence counsel was not available due to his engagements in Karachi.

To which, the NAB prosecutor argued that the bureau had medical facilities and requested for the physical remand of the accused.

The court after hearing arguments of both parties remanded the accused into NAB custody on physical remand till March 5. The court directed NAB officials to produce him again on expiry of the remand term.

The NAB had arrested the accused on charges of presenting fake documents, obtaining constructive possession of Ashiana-i-Iqbal project without financial close and willfully failing to complete the project, causing a loss to the government.

Shahid in connivance with the LDA officers had presented fake documents of joint consortium comprising three firms – Bismillah Engineering Services Co, M/s Sparco Construction Company and M/s China First Metallurgical Group Co Ltd — and eventually obtained a contract of Rs14 billion illegally being owner of C4 category company, which was not eligible to get a contract worth more than Rs150 million.

Earlier, on Sunday, the NAB officials obtained one-day physical remand of the accused from a magisterial court due to the closure of accountability courts on account of the weekly holiday.