pakistan

NAB witnesses give clean chit to PM Shehbaz in Ashiana scam

Published

2 weeks ago

March 18, 2023

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NAB witnesses give clean chit to PM Shehbaz in Ashiana scam

Giving a clean chit to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, five more NAB witnesses on Saturday testified before an accountability court in Lahore that the PML-N president was not guilty in Ashiana Housing Society reference.

The development came as an accountability court started hearing the Ashiana Housing Society reference. Accountability court recorded statements of five witnesses produced by the National Accountability Bureau. Advocate Anwaar Hussain appeared before court on behalf of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. NAB Prosecutor Waris Janjua got recorded statements of the witnesses.

The witnesses said they had no knowledge of any illegal act committed in the project. They added that the bid was opened as per rules and regulations, project was signed and financed through finance committee and all the relevant documents were designed according to rules.

NAB witness Layyah Deputy Commissioner Khalid Pervaiz took the stance that he worked as LDA director from 2013 to 2015. He said he had signed the Ashiana Housing Society implementation project. He further said he had recorded his statement before NAB’s investigation officer on March 6, 2018.

NAB’s second witness Mehmood Ahmad Sulehri said the LDA had constituted a committee on Ashiana Housing Society project and asked Nespak to nominate a senior member for the body. “Nespak nominated me as a member of that committee,” he added. The bid evaluation was properly done by a committee. It was then sent to a steering committee. He said he joined the investigation on March 9, 2018 and recorded his statement.

The court also recorded statement of witness Hussain Ahmad, a design specialist. He stated that he was working as design specialist in 2014. He said he had prepared proposal of the Ashiana Housing Society project. “I formulated standards relating to structure of the society. Three committees – bid opening committee, technical evaluation committee and financial evaluation committee – were formed,” he said. Mr Ahmad said every bid was received under the watchful eye of cameras and properly signed by every member.

The court also recorded statement of another NAB witness Shahid Kamran, a research analyst. He told the accountability court that he remained working as a research analyst in the LDA from May 2014 to 2016.

The court, asking lawyers to cross-examine the witnesses, adjourned hearing of the case till March 25. The court has already exempted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif from appearance.

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Related Topics:Ashiana scam NAB pakistan PM Shehbaz

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pakistan

Toshakhana case: Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi challenges NAB notices in IHC

Published

12 mins ago

April 1, 2023

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akistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi on Saturday moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the call-up notices issued by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a reference regarding Toshakhana gifts.

The former first lady has challenged the notices served on her on March 16 and 17 through her lawyer, Khawaja Harris. She has made the NAB chairman, and additional director of NAB Rawalpindi respondents in the case.

Bushra Bibi had pleaded the court to declare the notices null and void. She also requested the high court to bar the NAB from taking any disciplinary action against her on the basis of the notices. The petitioner asked the court to stop NAB from converting the case inquiry into an investigation.

The development comes after she failed to appear before the anti-graft watchdog to join the inquiry proceedings in the reference.

A notice issued to Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi and others in the Toskhana case in February this year states: “The competent authority has taken cognisance of an offence allegedly committed by the accused persons under the provisions of NAO, 1999. In this regard, the inquiry proceedings have revealed that during your tenure in office you retained some state gifts presented to you by various foreign dignitaries including the following luxury items — five Rolex wristwatches; one iPhone presented by Chief of Staff, Qatar Armed Forces, dated 14.11.2018; (No. E67574V3), a pair of cufflinks, one ring; unstitched cloth of pant coat from Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia dated 18.09.2020; Graff gift set containing one Graff wristwatch Master Graff Special Edition Mecca timepiece, one 18K gold and diamond Graff pen and a ring and pair of cufflinks with micro-painting of Mecca.”

“You are therefore requested to join the inquiry proceedings before the Combined Investigation Team (CIT), NAB (Rawalpindi/Islamabad), Civic Centre, G-6, Islamabad,” reads the notice

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pakistan

Govt moves SC to withdraw curative review reference against Justice Isa

Published

17 mins ago

April 1, 2023

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The federal government on Saturday filed a petition in the Supreme Court to withdraw curative review reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa.

The government said it did not want to pursue the case and pleaded the apex court to allow the withdrawal of the petition against the senior judge.

A day earlier, President Dr Arif Alvi approved the withdrawal of the curative review reference and Civil Miscellaneous Application (CMA) against the judge of Justice Isa.

The president gave the approval on the advice of the prime minister in accordance with Article 48 of the Constitution. Dr Alvi also signed his power of attorney in favour of Advocate Supreme Court Anees Ahmed Shehzad.

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pakistan

‘Only three’ died in pursuit of free flour in Punjab, clarifies Punjab gov spox

Published

23 mins ago

April 1, 2023

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Punjab caretaker information minister Amir Mir on Saturday said PTI senior vice president Fawad Chaudhry’s claims of 20 deaths in pursuit of free flour across the province were ridiculous.

He clarified that “only three” people died in a stampede while four others suffered a cardiac arrest adding that two of them died in the hospital while the remaining breathed their last in their homes.

He said Mr Chaudhry’s false claims won’t get the air adding that he should refrain from telling lies in the holy month of Ramadan at least. “PTI leaders compete with each other in lies”, he added. People of Pakistan, he said, were aware of the difference between truth and lies and it was not possible for people like Fawad to misguide them.

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