Shahbaz Sharif (right) with brother Nawaz Sharif
Pakistan’s anti-graft body on Friday arrested opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif, for his alleged involvement in a Rs 1,400 crore housing scam, which comes as a latest setback to the embattled Sharif family. Shahbaz is the younger brother of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and is facing corruption charges in three cases.
NAB spokesperson Nawazish Ali Asim on Friday said, “Shahbaz Sharif on Friday appeared before an investigation team of the National Accountability Bureau Lahore. He was arrested after he failed to satisfy the investigator for his alleged role in awarding contracts to his favourite firm in violations of rules in the Ashiana Housing scheme and Punjab Saaf Pani Company.”
The spokesperson further said Shahbaz, President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will be presented before an accountability court for a physical remand on Saturday.
He will be kept in a highly-secured lock-up inside the NAB Lahore office until his appearance in court.
According to a report, Shahbaz was detained by NAB officials and his car was sent away. His private staff who accompanied him as security were also asked to leave.
The arrest comes a little over a week ahead of the by-polls scheduled for October 14.
Shahbaz, a former chief minister of Punjab province, was allegedly involved in the corruption of Rs 14 billion Ashiana Housing project and Rs 4 billion Punjab Saaf Pani Company scams.
To plan, design, execute and manage the projects for the provision of safe drinking water, this Saaf Pani Company was established by Shahbaz's previous Punjab government.
Shahbaz's son-in-law Ali Imran Yousuf is also facing corruption inquiries in this case. He has fled to the UK and the NAB has written to the interior ministry to bring him back from abroad through Interpol.
Reacting to Shahbaz's arrest, the PML-N said that arresting the Leader of the Opposition without seeking the permission of the NA speaker was "against the law".
