NAB hands over cheques to housing scam victims

Prime accused were arrested last year

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) handed over cheques worth Rs90 million among 118 victims and 1,900 possession letters (PLs) of Pak-Arab Housing Society Scandal during a ceremony held on Thursday.

Lahore NAB Director Investigation was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Other senior NAB Officers and hundreds of victims also attended the ceremony.

Lahore NAB by taking cognizance over complaints lodged by the general public against the administration of Pak-Arab Housing Society and arrested prime accused former Senator Ammar Gulzar and co-accused Manager, Ghulam Murtaza last year. During the course of investigation accused persons were awarded conditional bail while keeping in view the condition of speedy adjustment of victims’ losses, so the accused may settle the disputes by utilising their resources, without causing further delay.

It was clarified by NAB that the ongoing inquiry of the Pak-Arab Housing Society Scandal would not be closed down said spokesperson NAB unless the last victim of the case was compensated in the shape of cash return or handed over the possession letter.

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In pursuance of the directions from worthy NAB Chairman Justice Javed Iqbal regarding the early resolution of cases related to the Housing Sector and involving public money, Lahore NAB director general constituted an investigation team on priority for the adjustment and recovery of looted money in Pak-Arab Housing Society case.

The spokesperson said NAB has been swiftly proceeding towards complete resolution of this complicated Case which is admirable progress. “The NAB considers public service as a blessing from the Almighty and in this regard, all resources are being utilised by the bureau,” the spokesman said.

A day earlier, on Wednesday, NAB handed over possession letters (PLs) worth approximately Rs4.5 billion of LDA Avenue-I project. NAB Lahore has been facilitating to give away 623 PLs worth Rs4.5 billion among victims of the project in the first phase.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2019.