Former adviser to Chief Minister Punjab, during 1994, Mian Mohammad Rasheed, has been arrested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Punjab on charges of corruption and corrupt practices as defined under National Accountability Ordinance 1999. The accused, son of Mian Fakhar-ud-Din ex-MPA from Shakargarh, district Narowal, was elected as member District Council, Sialkot in 1983, and elected as MPA of Punjab in 1985 and again in 1988. He became MPA and MLA Azad Kashmir in 1990 and 1993, and became advisor to Chief Minister Punjab in 1994.

He was appointed as special assistant to Chief Minister Punjab in 1995, became MLA Azad Kashmir in 1996, and appointed as Minister Azad Jamu Kashmir in 1998, according to details in a press release issued here on Thursday by NAB Punjab.

After entering into politics, the accused acquired huge properties worth Rs 16 million till 1998 in his own name, and in the name of his family members, which was disproportionate to his known sources of income. He could not reasonably account for the huge bank accounts maintained by him and luxury vehicles under his use. He also misused his authority, according to NAB sources.

He was absconder since February 2001 for which he was convicted under section 31-A of National Accountability Ordinance 1999 with three years rigorous imprisonment (RI).

NAB authorities conducted a raid and arrested the accused while he was attending a marriage ceremony of a close relative in an Officers Club at Lahore.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2005