NAB to submit reply over Cheema’s arrest

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday issued notices to National Accountability Bureau director general to submit reply on a petition filed by Ahad Cheema, a former director general of LDA against his arrest on corruption charges.

Cheema contended in his petition that NAB initiated an inquiry against corruption in Ashiana-e-Iqbal housing project. The petitioner said the project was assigned by Punjab Development Company through an agreement on January 20, 2015 to Lahore Development Authority while he was the then DG of the authority. He said he was alleged that he awarded contract to Lahore CASA Developers as a joint venture. Cheema said he was summoned by NAB for inquiry and he provided information about the said project.

In his petition, Cheema claimed he was made a scapegoat in Ashiana Housing scheme case. He said the contract awarded to CASA Developers was transparent. After hearing initial arguments of the petitioner’s counsel, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi issued notices to the NAB with directives to submit reply and adjourned further proceedings until March 1. 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2018.