Notices issued to him by NAB are based on ill intentions: Shehbaz Sharif
23 January, 2018
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said the notices issued to him by the National Accountability in an inquiry related to the Ashiana Housing Scheme were based on ill intentions.
Talking to reporters after appearing before the NAB to record his statement, the chief minister said he could have sent a written reply to the body but appeared personally for the sake of supremacy of law. “Is it a crime to save the money of the nation?” asked the CM, adding if stopping corruption was a crime then he will commit this crime again and again.
Shehbaz asked if the bureau had ever summoned Asif Ali Zardari on the basis of a truth. While the Raiwind road project was quickly probed, he continued, no one took notice of the fact that no bidding was conducted for the Nandipur power project.
The chief minster went on to add that he would resign from his post if corruption was proven in any project initiated by him since 1997. “I request NAB to direct his staff to refrain from playing politics [over cases of corruption],” he said, adding NAB officials didn’t have answers to his questions and they kept silent.
Giving details of the Ashiana project, Shehbaz said it was during former army chief General (r) Pervez Kiyani’s tenure that the land was procured. He said the Bank of Punjab funded the scheme and the plan was aimed at benefiting the poor and the underprivileged.
On cancellation of Chaudhry Latif’s contract, the CM said that his contract was related to roads and infrastructure. On January 17, NAB Lahore had issued a notification stating that it has been conducting an inquiry against management/officials of the Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC), Lahore Casa Developers, Lahore Development Authority and others.
|
