Shehbaz lashes out at NAB over Ashiana Housing Scheme probe
Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif lashed out on Monday at the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) probing alleged corruption in Ashiana Housing Scheme, questioning the intention of the anti-graft watchdog in summoning him.
Earlier today, the bureau probed Shehbaz for an hour and half in connection with the housing scheme.
“The NAB summoning me was based on mala fide intention,” the Punjab CM said while addressing media. “I was summoned on the basis of a lie.”
He raised a question if the bureau “had ever summoned [PPP co-chairman] Asif Ali Zardari on the basis of a truth.”
While the Raiwind road project was quickly probed, he continued, no one took notice of the fact that no bidding was conducted in the Nandipur power project.
According to Shehbaz, NAB officials didn’t have answers to his questions and they kept silent.
“I request the chairman NAB to direct his staff to refrain from playing politics [over cases of corruption],” he said.
‘Political clowns’ staged a farce, says Shehbaz
The chief minster went on to add that he would resign from his post if corruption was proven in any project initiated by him since 1997.
“Allotment in the Ashiana Housing Scheme was conducted 100% on merit,” he said.
Treating NAB, judiciary ‘shameful’: Imran
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said Sharif brothers had resorted to threats after their corruption was exposed in development projects.
“Sharifs after having their billions in corruption exposed have taken to issuing threats to NAB & the senior judiciary,” Imran said in a tweet.
“This is absolutely shameful & unacceptable,” he added.
Sharifs after having their billions in corruption exposed have taken to issuing threats to NAB & the senior judiciary. This is absolutely shameful & unacceptable. People will not allow this Sharif dictatorship – this "fironiyat" that they have practiced for 3 decades to continue.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 22, 2018
On January 17, NAB regional office issued a notification indicating that the bureau had carried out an inquiry against an official of the Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC), Lahore Casa Developers, Lahore Development Authority and others.
The letter reads that the Punjab CM ordered “cancellation of award of contract of Ashiana-e-Iqbal to successful bidder Chaudhry Latif and Sons, leading to the contract being award to Lahore Casa Developers (JV), a proxy of Paragon City (Pvt) Limited, which resulted in the loss of Rs193 million approximately.”
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Original news : https://tribune.com.pk/story/1615209/1-shehbaz-lashes-nab-ashiana-housing-scheme-probe/