NAB arrests Ahsan Iqbal in Narowal Sports City case

ISLAMABAD: The PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal was arrested on Monday by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as he appeared before it in relation to a corruption case.

On the other hand, the Sindh High Court (SHC) suspended the release orders of the PPP stalwart Syed Khursheed Shah in the assets beyond means case, while the Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted bail to former finance minister Miftah Ismail in LNG case.

According to a NAB spokesman, the NAB has arrested the PML-N leader in relation to the Narowal Sports City Complex case. The NAB's Rawalpindi chapter had summoned Ahsan Iqbal in relation to the case.

According to NAB, Ahsan Iqbal will be presented before an accountability court today (Tuesday) for his physical remand.

Sources said the arrest warrant for the PML-leader was signed by the NAB Chairman Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal. The NAB had begun investigating the sports complex in July 2018. It was built at the staggering cost of over Rs3,000 million. The NAB investigation team also visited the Narowal Sports City project last month to secure records. The mega venture was one of the primary projects developed under former minister for planning Ahsan Iqbal during the PML-N's tenure.

Taking to media persons before heading to NAB Rawalpindi, Ahsan Iqbal said those who ask him questions should ask before cameras and openly. "Whatever Imran Khan Niazi wanted to do it because he could not pressurised PML-N,” he asked.

Ahsan Iqbal said he was summoned in Narowal Sports City Complex and the government was using the NAB for character assassination of its opponents. He said the NAB has initiated complaint on basis of newspaper report alleging Rs6 billion scam, but the total cost of the project was Rs2.5 billion. He said Narowal Sports City Complex was being called as security risk, but the DHA is more close to borders as compared to Narowal Sports City Complex and this project was 14 to 15 kilometres.

"I proposed this project in 2009 when I was opposition member during the PPP tenure," he said. The PML-N leader said initial cost of this project was Rs750 million, but work was stopped and when he assumed the Ministry of Planning and Development then work on this project was started again and funds for the project were approved like other development projects and cost escalated due to delay in execution of projects as well as stopping of funds. He said when the NAB took notice, 95 percent work on the project was completed, but investors chose to stay away from the project once the NAB started inquiry.

Ahsan Iqbal said Imran Khan Niazi has put the country into crisis and was using the government institutions to gag the voices of his opponents. He questioned why the inquiries were not being held in PTI foreign funding case.

Meanwhile, the SHC Sukkur bench suspended Khursheed Shah’s bail in the assets beyond means case.

On December 17, the PPP leader was granted bail by an accountability court against surety bonds worth Rs5 million. The bail, however, was delayed as he was unable to submit the bonds, while the NAB moved the SHC to nullify Khursheed Shah’s bail.

The court ordered that the former opposition leader's bail would remain suspended until the next hearing. His lawyer, Mukesh Kumar, said the court was adjourned till January 16.

Khursheed Shah is under treatment at the National Institute of Cardio Vascular Diseases (NICVD). As many as 18 people, including Khursheed Shah, have been named in the reference.

Meanwhile, the IHC granted bail to former finance minister Miftah Ismail in the LNG case.

A two member bench of the IHC comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the case.

The PML-N)leader, was arrested by the NAB in August in the LNG import case. Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and ex-managing director PSO Sheikh Imranul Haq are also facing investigations in the case.

During the proceedings, Miftah Ismail’s counsel argued that his client was accused of hiring consultant illegally while the appointment was made by USAID and that he was not even on Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) board at that time.

To this, Justice Athar Minallah asked how much remand had been given to Miftah Ismail. The NAB prosecutor told the court that Miftah Ismail has been granted 49 days remand till now. When the bench inquired about the status of inquiry, the NAB official informed the court that the investigation was ongoing and an interim reference has been filed in the case. The prosecutor opposed the bail saying the accused may flee the country. He said former chairman SSGC Zuhair Siddiqui, who has become approver in the case, is being threatened.

After conclusion of arguments, the bench granted bail to Miftah Ismail against surety bonds of worth Rs10 million.

Special Assistant to PM on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said those who had looted the masses’ economic rights were reaping what they had sowed.

She charged that it was shameful for the PML-N spokespersons to defend with impunity the corruption and lies of their leaders.

“It pains them as to how the law became stronger than them. They are raising hue and cry over the foreign funding, who have their children and accounts abroad and keep on taking dates for adjournment of cases against their party,” she said.

About Ahsan Iqbal, she claimed that so far he had not been able to give replies to the five questions put to him by Murad Saeed, what to talk of giving answers to the NAB questions.

The prime minister, she continued, was keeping high the ‘flag of jehad’ against corruption and the nation knew them (Sharifs) well and now no unfounded propaganda could mislead them.

Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed said while talking to a news channel that Ahsan Iqbal caused loss to the national exchequer more than anyone else.

Murad Saeed said the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto was distraught due to being held accountable for corruption.

Murad Saeed said that he won’t let the opposition leader escape accountability on the excuse of his mother’s death anniversary although he or the government has never stopped him or the PPP from observing the occasion.

Federal Minister Faisal Vawda said people liked Ahsan Iqbal must be hanged for at least three days. He alleged that Ahsan Iqbal was even more corrupt that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. He vowed to unveil the ‘list’ of front company and relatives of Ahsan Iqbal soon.

The PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb, while reacting harshly to the arrest of Ahsan Iqbal, revealed that he had undergone surgery merely three days ago.

She said that the surgery was related to the incident last year in May, where an assailant had shot at the then minister in his own constituency, Narowal. Ahsan Iqbal's bone was fractured after he received a bullet in his right shoulder.

A visibly enraged Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the party will continue calling out the incompetence of the incumbent government. She said Ahsan Iqbal never commissioned the Narowal project as it was launched in the PPP tenure.

“It was a dormant project that Ahsan Iqbal revived during the PML-N’s rule,” she said.

The PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif also condemned the arrest of Ahsan Iqbal. "The arrest of a person who fortified Pakistan-China friendship and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is deplorable," he said in a statement.

PML-N leader Talal Chaudhry spoke to Geo News to share his views about Ahsan Iqbal’s arrest.

He alleged that the government is trying to control the opposition and arresting leaders through the NAB.

“Ahsan Iqbal knew he might be arrested, but he stood by his stance,” said Talal Chaudhry, adding that there was a nexus between Imran Khan and NAB.