Ahad Cheema indicted in corruption reference

Trial court extends judicial remand of former LDA DG for 14 days

LAHORE: An accountability court on Thursday indicted former Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director general Ahad Khan Cheema in a corruption reference filed by the anti-corruption watchdog against him for possessing assets beyond known means of income.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor apprised the court that Cheema has assets worth billions of rupees that are beyond his known sources of income.

He further said these assets were registered in his and his family members’ names.

However, Cheema denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty, upon which, the court extended his judicial remand for 14 days and summoned witnesses in the case on January 30.

In the reference, it has been revealed that Cheema has 22 properties registered in his or his family members’ names.

The details of his properties included; a plot in LDA Avenue, two plots in Bank Alfalah Employees Housing Society; and 188 kanals and 12 marlas; and 123 kanals and 19 marlas of agricultural land in Bhaik Ahmad Yar, Hafizabad.



His properties also included three kanals of land in his name in Karbath village, Cantonment tehsil; and 14 kanals and seven marlas of land in the same village registered in his family members’ names.

NAB also unearthed 48 kanals and 10 marlas at Model Town in his and his mother’s name as well as a flat in Hill Lock View Islamabad and a plot in Sector I-15.

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 have also been found in his name.

A plot of five marlas in Faisal Residentia and three kanals of land on Bedian Road is registered in his wife’s name.

NAB filed the reference against him in October 2018 after arresting the accused on February 15, 2018 over allegations of corruption in Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Scheme scam.

During investigations, assets worth billions of rupees were revealed.

A reference against the accused for committing corruption of Rs660 million in Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Scheme case was filed on June 22, 2018.

Other accused persons, including former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif, have also been arrested in the scandal.