A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for January 29, on two separate petitions of Shahbaz Sharif seeking bail in Ashiana Housing Scheme and Ramzan Sugar Mills cases. During a brief hearing, on court query about no grounds taken for bail in the sugar mills case, the counsel told the bench that the NAB had not told the grounds of arrest of his client in the case.

The NAB caused arrest of Shahbaz Sharif in the mills related case during custody in the housing scheme case and the trial court had denied physical remand of Sharif in the mills case, the counsel added. In the housing scheme's scam, Shahbaz Sharif sought bail on merit and medical grounds.

The NAB accused Shahbaz Sharif of misusing his authority by unlawfully assuming powers of Board of Directors of Punjab Land Development and Management Company (PLDC), in connivance with his co-accused and awarded contract of Ashiana Housing scheme to ineligible proxy firm and caused loss to public exchequer. It is also alleged that the Shahbaz Sharif's direction to entrust the project of housing scheme to LDA from PLDC.

In the other reference, the NAB alleged that Shahbaz Sharif being chief minister had issued a directive for construction of a drain in district Chiniot primarily for the use of Ramzan sugar mills owned by his sons and Rs 200 million was spent for this purpose from public money.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019