Buzdar skips ACE, court proceedings

Former CM gets 14-day extension in interim bail due to Covid

LAHORE:

Former chief minister Usman Buzdar skipped appearance before an Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) team investigating allegations of bribery in development work on Monday.

He also sought exemption from appearance before an accountability court in a case of assets beyond means.

According to the ACE, Buzdar's lawyer sought relaxation for a week because the leader had quarantined himself due to coronavirus.

Buzdar is facing allegations of corruption in the construction of a 50km road from Bharathi to Khar Buzdar in Taunsa at a cost of Rs700 million with connivance of highway department officers and contractors.

It was alleged that the road had fallen into disrepair because of the use of material of poor quality.

The former chief minister had approved schemes of millions of rupees for Bharathi, but material of poor quality had been used in tuff tiles.

A multi-purpose hall was also allegedly constructed at the personal residence of Buzdar with government fund at the cost of millions of rupees. Another allegation pertains to corruption in a contract for the construction of the boundary wall of a cemetery. A relative of the former CM, Dr Ijaz Leghari, is also suspected of being involved in the scam.

Meanwhile, an accountability court granted an extension of 14 days in interim bail of Buzdar. His counsel had sought relief because the respondent was suffering from coronavirus.

As he presented a Covid certificate, the court noted that it had been prepared by a hospital inaugurated by Buzdar. It also expressed annoyance over the absence of any senior counsel.

National Accountability Bureau officials said Buzdar had yet to satisfy them over queries regarding the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th, 2023.