–Court lashes out at NAB officials after being informed that NA Opp leader was not present at hearing because he was chairing a PAC meeting in Islamabad
LAHORE: Incarcerated Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shehbaz Sharif is to be indicted in the Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Scheme scam on February 18.
The accountability court decreed this as it was hearing a case pertaining to the Ashiana scam in which a Rs14 billion contract was unlawfully awarded to CASA Developers by former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif and his aides. Shehbaz has been in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB’s) custody since October 5.
During the hearing on Thursday, the accused, including former Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director general Ahad Cheema and former principal secretary to prime minister Fawad Hasan Fawad, were present in court but Shehbaz, who is also the opposition leader in the National Assembly, excused himself due to a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) taking place in Islamabad.
When asked, the court was told that Shehbaz was unwell too, due to which he could not appear in court. The court interjected that police were just guardians and the State should be answerable for his absence. To this, the NAB prosecutor said that it fell upon the police’s shoulders to present Shehbaz in court. The NA Opp leader’s lawyer said that his client had an issue with his backbone and his doctor had advised him against long journeys. To this, the court responded that why not summon this doctor and ask him about the report. The court added that according to the report, Sharif was fine and it seems his health deteriorated lying in bed.
The judge then said Shehbaz was supposed to be indicted in the case on Thursday, to which his lawyer replied that there was no such order.
Ordering for Shehbaz to be present during the next hearing, the court said that “an order beyond summons would be given if he fails to appear”. He should end the meeting and appear in court and he can take an air ambulance if he is ill.
The judge informed Shehbaz Sharif’s counsel that his client would be indicted during the next hearing and there will be no excuses acceptable on his absence.
The hearing of the case was then adjourned till February 18.