DUBAI (Web Desk) – Police have arrested Pakistan People’s Party leader Asif Hashmi for corruption of more than Rs 4 billion.
Hashmi, a close aide of Asif Ali Zardari and the former chairman of Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), had left the country for Dubai in 2014, after FIA issued his red warrants.
According to the sources in FIA, Asif Hashmi was arrested by Dubai police on Monday night, and will be handed over to Interpol.
Hashmi will be brought back soon since Pakistan has extradition treaty with UAE, the sources added.
Asif Hashmi had sold the ETPB 1,946 kanal land to DHA on 25 per cent exemption basis in 2009, whereas same land was recommended by former ETPB chairman Gen Zulfiqar Ali Khan on 33 per cent exemption basis to DHA in 2001.
The land was situated in Dera Chahal, Lidher and Mota and difference of 8 per cent caused loss of Rs 2 billion while another 225 kanals was evacuated from DHA which was occupied with the connivance of ETPB officials and Hashmi team.
Following the orders of the Supreme Court, FIA retrieved the said land. FIA sources said that there were more than 20 accused in the case including ETPB board members and senior bureaucrats Shareef Khan, Abdul Ghafar, Tahir Ali Shah and others.
