LAHORE: An accountability court on Thursday rejected National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) request for further physical remand of Asif Hashmi, former Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) chairman, involved in illegal investments and plots allotment cases, and sent him to jail on 4-day judicial remand.
Earlier, the NAB officials produced Asif Hashmi before Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Azam and requested the court for further physical remand to complete the investigations in the cases.
However, the defence lawyer objected the plea saying that why NAB could not complete its investigations despite passing six years period. He submitted that all allotments were made by a board constituted by then government and Hashmi did not get any benefit in the matter.
To which, the NAB prosecutor submitted that physical custody of the accused was also necessary for obtaining the record.
But, the defence counsel submitted that all record was available with the department concerned whereas the accused’s custody was not required for the purpose. The court was further apprised that all investments were made as per law with High Links Capital.
At this, the court rejected the request for further physical remand and sent Asif Hashmi to jail on 14-day judicial remand till May 3. The court directed the officials to produce the accused again on expiry of the remand term.
Meanwhile, Accountability Court Judge Najam ul Hassan also rejected the request for further physical remand of Asif Hashmi in two illegal recruitment cases and sent him to jail on judicial remand.