NAB summons Fawad Chaudhry

Fawad accused of exerting political influence in planning of dual carriageway project

ISLAMABAD:

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi has issued a summon for former federal minister Fawad Chaudhary to appear before the joint investigation team in connection with his alleged involvement in the Jhelum-Pind Dadan Khan dual carriageway project.

The former PTI leader has been directed to present himself at the NAB Rawalpindi office at 10 am on November 13 (Monday).

The summon outlines that the inquiry has uncovered Fawad's purported exertion of undue political influence in the planning of the dual carriageway project during his tenure as a federal minister.

Moreover, it alleges that he unlawfully gained advantages from the contractor and their associates."Furthermore, you, along with other members of your family, acquired land along the dual carriageway project. During the land acquisition for this project, a significant loss was incurred by the national exchequer," the accountability watchdog asserts.

Earlier on Wednesday, an Islamabad district and sessions court sent the former federal minister to jail on a 14-day judicial remand in a case registered against him for allegedly taking a bribe from a citizen. He was arrested from his residence in Islamabad and subsequently placed in police custody.

Fawad was among several PTI leaders who parted ways with the PTI in the wake of the unrest on May 9, when party chief Imran Khan was arrested at the Islamabad High Court premises.

While Fawad initially declared he was "taking a break from politics," his presence at the launch event of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) led by Jahangir Khan Tareen in June raised questions about his actual political stance.

Despite being seen at the IPP's inauguration, Fawad has not confirmed his affiliation with the party, which has gained the support of numerous PTI leaders in the aftermath of the May 9 riots.