An accountability court on Friday directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file Narowal Sports Complex alleged corruption reference against former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal within a month.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader appeared before the court for the hearing. Taking the rostrum, Iqbal alleged that he is being penalized for doing good deeds and added that the Sports Complex has been ruined in last 18 months.
He demanded to file reference against those who ruined the complex. After marking his attendance, the former minister left for NAB office to appear before it after being summoned in the same reference.
The court after directing NAB to file reference against Iqbal within 30 days, adjourned the hearing till March 26.
It is pertinent to mention here that Ahsan Iqbal had been released from Adiala Jail, after the Islamabad High Court had approved his bail.
Ahsan Iqbal is accused of using funds of the federal government and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) for a sports city in Narowal.
NAB had announced to initiate a probe into alleged violation of rules in the construction of the National Sports City project – a day after its inauguration by the then President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain.
Meanwhile, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday seized the passport of former federal minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal.
It is pertinent here to mention that former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal was directed to appear before the anti-graft watchdog. During investigation the NAB officers seized the PML-N leader’s passport and imposed a ban on his travel abroad. It is pertinent here to mention that Ahsan Iqbal was released from Adiala Jail on Wednesday after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted him bail in the Narowal Sports Complex case against surety bonds worth Rs 10 million.
Separately, an accountability court on Friday extended the judicial remand of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) stalwart, Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, till March 13, in assets beyond means.
Hamza Shahbaz Sharif was produced before the court of Judge Jawad-ul-Hassan under tight security.
The court had to indict PML-N leader today but due to the absence of duty judge, the Punjab Assembly opposition leader will now be inducted on March 6.
The accountability court has summoned PML-N leader to appear before the court on March 6 and extended his judicial remand including six other accused in money laundering case till March 13.
The court was then adjourned till March 6.
It must be noted that the NAB had arrested PML-N leader in the assets beyond income case on June 11, 2019, after LHC had turned down his applications for extension in interim bail.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday rejected the bail plea of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shahbaz in assets beyond means case.
A two-member bench of LHC comprising Justice Syed Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Sardar Ahmed Naeem heard the case.
