Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reached at the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) regional office in an inquiry related to the Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Scheme and recording his statement.
The Punjab chief minister arrived at NAB’s Lahore office without official protocol. Earlier, the bureau summoned Shehbaz at 10.30am today with regard to an inquiry into Ashiana-e-Iqbal housing scheme, however Shehbaz appeared in the court in the second half.
NAB has made allegations that CM Punjab has caused the loss of one thousand and 65 million rupees to the national exchequer by using his powers illegally.According to the notice sent by NAB to CM Punjab: First allegation, despite successful biding of Chaudhry Latif and Sons for Ashyiana Iqbal Housing Society, on the orders of the CM Punjab cancelling the agreement contract was given to sub unit of Paragon’s Sada Developers that caused the loss of one hundred and 93 million rupees.
The second allegation, CM Punjab using his powers illegally ordered the PLDC to award the contract of Ashiyana project through Lahore Development Authority (LDA) to Paragon City that caused the loss of 700 million rupees to national exchequer and failure of project.
Third Allegation: The Nespak has offered 35 million rupees for consultancy services, however the same contract has been given to favourite company in 192 million rupees.On January 17, NAB Lahore issued a notification stating that NAB Lahore has been conducting an inquiry against management/officials of Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC), Lahore Casa Developers, Lahore Development Authority and others.
The letter read that the prima facie Shehbaz Sharif, being the Punjab chief minister, ordered “cancellation of award of contract of Ashiana-e-Iqbal to successful bidder M/s Ch Latif and Sons, leading to award of contract to M/s Lahore Casa Developers (J.V), a proxy of M/s Paragon City (Pvt) Limited, which resulted into loss of Rs193 million approximately.”
Earlier on Sunday, Shehbaz Sharif had shared that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned him and he will bring the real face of the Bureau before the media with evidence.Addressing the inaugural ceremony of Bab-e-Pakistan project on Lahore’s Walton Road, he said NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal was expressing his love for him by sending him notices, but he would bring the facts before the public.
“I will apologise to the nation and leave politics if corruption of even a single penny is proved against me. But if it is not proved, you have to decide about the accusers.”
He said billions of rupees had been plundered in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL), Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), rental power plants, Nandipur and Chichuki Malian, but there was no one to hold them accountable.The CM said NAB failed to recover looted money from Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari.
“But we won’t spare him and bring back the looted money from (Zardari’s) Swiss bank (accounts), or from any other part of the world.” He said every single person of the country was well aware of the corruption committed by Zardari in the country.
