Pakistan

Accumulation of assets: NAB gets remand of Shafqat Cheema

Cheema had frequently taken family trips to Europe and the US in recent years

Our Correspondent May 18, 2016

Cheema was in charge of the Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal desk at the ministry and was accused of sending a number of illegal migrants abroad against heavy bribes. PHOTO: NATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY BUREAU

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Wednesday awarded physical remand of foreign ministry director Shafqat Ali Cheema to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) over his alleged accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income.

The Accountability Court Judge, Muhammad Bashir, handed over the suspect to the NAB for 12 days after the officials of the anti-graft body produced him before the court for obtaining his physical remand.

NAB authorities said that the heavy turnover was seen, while searching bank accounts and Cable Business Company of Cheema, adding that salary and service record has also been received from concerned quarters.

The authority also said that Cheema had frequently taken family trips to Europe and the US in recent years.

Cheema was in charge of the Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal desk at the ministry and was accused of sending a number of illegal migrants abroad against heavy bribes.

Subsequently, the court granted remand to the NAB authorities for 12 days.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2016.