LAHORE – In another blow to the embattled Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, National Accountability Bureau arrested former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA Hafiz Mian Noman.
The former lawmaker was arrested after his interim bail plea was dismissed by the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday.
A division bench of the high court headed by Justice Muhammad Tariq and comprising Justice Mirza Viqas Rauf heard Hafiz Noman’s bail petition.
Noman, who is a former head of the Lahore Parking Company, appeared before the bench; he was on interim bail till November 28,
During the hearing, the NAB lawyer argued regarding the irregularities in contracts of the parking company, adding that the bureau had initiated an inquiry into the matter.
The NAB official argued that the company was bound to develop parking sites on 246 places as per the contract with the city district government, but only 33 sites were operational.
Anti-graft watchdog had also issued an arrest warrant against Noman because he was the head of the company whereas all other accused had already been arrested, the lawyer informed the bench.
The counsel pleaded the court to dismiss the bail plea of the accused which was accepted.
On the other hand, Hafiz Noman’s lawyer, Asad Manzoor Butt, pleaded that his client was offered an honorary position of the LPC chairman.
Noman never withdrew a single rupee from the company’s funds and all contracts of the company were awarded legally, he contended.
He claimed that the corruption charges against former lawmaker were bogus adding that Noman had fully cooperated with NAB during the investigation.
NAB had failed to determine any liability against Noman in the challan submitted to the trial court, contended Butt while requesting an extension in interim bail.
However, the court rejected the plea, following which NAB officials arrested Noman from the court premises.
The bench also dismissed post-arrest bail petitions of LPC’s former Chief Executive Officer, Taseer Ahmad and ex-Managing Director Usman Qayyum.
