Two approvers remanded

LAHORE: Accountability Court Judge Syed Najam-ul-Hassan Bukhari Thursday sent two accused persons to jail on judicial remand after NAB prosecutor informed the court that they had become approvers in Ashiana Housing Scheme’s scam.

The accused persons, including Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Chief Engineer Israr Saeed and Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC) Chief Engineer Col (r) Arif Majeed were produced before the NAB court.

The NAB officials produced both the accused/approvers before the court of Syed Najam-ul-Hassan Bukhari under strict security arrangements. NAB Prosecutor Waris Ali Janjua represented anti-corruption watch body and said that both the accused persons had become approvers in the case. He said the accused had said that Ahad Khan Cheema, then DG LDA, awarded contracts of the project illegally and in violation of law.

The prosecutor said they were under pressure because of then LDA DG. However, he said the written statement of the accused would be presented before the court at the beginning of the trial. According to the prosecutor, both the accused persons had been forgiven by the NAB chairman under the NAB law. He said no more physical remand was required for their investigation. The accused’s counsel, however, pleaded the court to release the approvers on bail after their forgiveness by the NAB authorities. On it, the court observed that the accused had to fulfill the legal requirements by securing bail from the high court. After hearing both sides, the bench remanded both the accused /approvers into judicial custody.

The NAB authorities had arrested six persons, including former LDA DG Ahad Khan Cheema, Bismillah Engineering Company owner Shahid Shafiq, LDA Chief Engineer Israr Saeed, Punjab Land Development Company Chief Engineer Col (r) Arif Majeed, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) PLDC Imtiaz Haider and another PLDC official Bilal Qudwai for their alleged involvement in Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Scheme’s scam. All other accused except Israr Saeed and Arif Majeed would be produced before the court on April 03.

Ahad Khan Cheema was arrested last month on charges of misusing his authority and, with criminal intent, processing and awarding Ashiana-e-lqbal project contract worth Rs14 billion to Lahore CASA Developers, a joint venture a firm which was ineligible for the same. The contract, in connivance with other accused persons, was awarded in violation of PPP Act, 2014.

NAB inquiry revealed that Bismillah Engineering Services Co (a major shareholder of JV titled Lahore CASA Developers) was a proxy firm working on behalf of Paragon City (Pvt) Ltd. Cheema allegedly received illegal gratification in the form of 32 kanals of land (valuing Rs30.09 million approximately from the owners of Paragon City (Pvt) Ltd.