Ashiyana scandal: Former DG LDA Ahad Cheema's remand extended by seven days

Cheema has been in NAB's custody over 80 days but no concrete evidence provided, says lawyer

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday extended the remand of former director-general Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Ahad Cheema, Private company Owner Shahid Shafiq, Chief Engineer PLDC Bilawal Qadoi and Imtiaz Haider in the Ashiyana Housing Case.



The accused were brought to the accountability court as their remand ended. During the hearing, the prosecutor told the court that 21 kanal four-marla land worth of Rs7 million, purchased in Paragon city is in former DG LDA’s wife Saima Ahad’s name.

NAB prosecutor further told that disclosure regarding Cheema’s investment of four million in Dera Ghazi College Punjab and purchase of flats in Islamabad has surfaced during the investigation, while transaction in code words through laptop also took place due to which the accused should be handed over to NAB with an extension in the remand for further investigations.

Cheema’s lawyer observed that the accused is within NABs hold since almost 80 days now but the country's top anti-graft body is yet to produce substantial evidence against Cheema. Through the case of undeclared assets, they demand an extension in remand while according to the law all the cases should’ve been brought forth before the arrest.



By commencing investigation after the arrest, NAB has violated the law thereby, the court should reject extension plea. The court heard both sides of the argument and reserved its verdict while granting an week's extension in Cheema's remand.