LAHORE – An accountability court on Thursday ordered for ensuring presence of opposition leader in National Assembly, Shehbaz Sharif, in the court on February 18 in connection with Ashiana-e-Iqbal housing case hearing.
Accountability Court Judge Syed Najamul Hassan Bukhari conducted the proceedings, wherein senior bureaucrat Fawad Hassan Fawad, former director general Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Ahad Cheema and other accused were produced.
As the proceedings commenced, DSP security Azaz Shah submitted that Shehbaz Sharif was in Islamabad in connection with Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting whereas his medical check-up was also scheduled for Thursday, in response to a court query.
However, the court expressed dissatisfaction over the reply and asked National Accountability Bureau prosecutor why Shehbaz Sharif was not produced.
The prosecutor replied that the police were responsible for producing the accused in the court and the Bureau had no role in it.
Shehbaz’s counsel submitted that his client was facing backbone issues and doctors had restrained him from long travel.
At this, the court expressed serious annoyance, observing that if the accused could attend the PAC meetings, why he could not appear in the court.
The court ordered for ensuring presence of Shehbaz Sahrif on Feb 18, and adjourned the hearing.
The court also distributed copies of the challan (charge-sheet) among the accused, observing that indictment would be made on the next hearing.
Meanwhile, the court adjourning hearing of Ramzan Sugar Mills case till Feb 18, directed NAB for filing a reference.
The NAB prosecutor told the court that the reference had been sent to the chairman for approval and it would be filed soon.
