PML-N MNA arrested in land grabbing case

Chaudhary Muhammad Ashraf is accused of illegally occupying over 157 acres of government land

The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) of Punjab on Tuesday arrested Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf in a land grabbing case, Express News reported.

Chaudhary Muhammad Ashraf was elected Member of National Assembly (MNA) from NA-161 (Sahiwal-II) constituency on the ruling PML-N's ticket.

The ACE has accused the lawmaker of illegally occupying over 157 acres of government land through forgery in collusion with the patwari (revenue officer), Muhammad Salim.

ACE claimed that the provincial anti-corruption department detained MNA Ashraf after the allegations were proved against him.

According to sources, the accused had concealed the ownership of his agricultural land by allotting it in the name of accused identified as Sharif Ahmed Hashmi.

Also read: Ex-deputy speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari arrested

Earlier in October this year, the ACE arrested Punjab Assembly’s former deputy speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari on charges of embezzling government land.

Reportedly, the provincial lawmaker’s arrested was confirmed by his cousin Shahab Mazari, who said that he was arrested while he was visiting his grandfather at the hospital.

According to Express News, ACE had summoned Mazari on October 11 on the same charges, but he failed to appear before it.

According to the report of Rujhan’s assistant commissioner, thousands of acres of land were embezzled by Mazari.