Punjab NAB files another reference against Cheema

Accused had registered baynami jaidad worth billions of rupees against his family members

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore has filed another reference, related to accumulating assets beyond known means of income, against former Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director general Ahad Khan Cheema. The reference was filed before an accountability court on Thursday.

The accused allegedly registered unidentified property worth billions of rupees against his wife and other family members. His assets included a large number of plots, agricultural land, flats and houses.

The details of his properties included plot number 701 in LDA Avenue, two plots in Bank Alfalah Employees Housing Society as well as two agricultural properties, measuring 188 kanals and 12 marlas and 123 kanals and 19 marlas, in Bhaik Ahmad Yar, Hafizabad.

His properties also included three kanals of land against his name in village Karbath, Cantt tehsil. Moreover, around 14 kanals and seven marlas of land were registered against his family’s name in the same village.

NAB has unearthed land of 48 kanals and 10 marlas in Model Town against his and his mother's name. A flat in Hill Lock View Islamabad and a plot in Sector I-15 are also owned by the accused. He also owns two plots in FIA Employees Cooperative Housing Scheme Islamabad. His plots were also spotted in PHA Foundation. A plot of 10 marlas in Faisal Town, Islamabad and five marlas in Faisal Residentia, Islamabad has also been found against his name. A plot of five marlas in Faisal Residentia and three kanals of land on Bedian Road has also been registered against his wife's name.

According to the reference, the worth of properties owned by Cheema is in the billions. The bureau arrested the accused on February 15, 2018 over allegations of corruption in the Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Scheme scam. During investigations, assets of worth billions of rupees were revealed to be his. The reference against the accused is for corruption totaling Rs660 million in the Ashiana-e-Iqbal case. It was filed on June 22, 2018.