Ashiana scandal: LDA chief engineer, another official become approvers

LAHORE: Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Chief Engineer Israr Saeed and another official Arif Butt, currently in National Accountability Bureau (NAB) custody in connection with Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Scheme scam investigation, have admitted to their wrong-doings and pleaded for becoming approvers in the case.

During proceedings of an accountability court here Thursday, NAB presented a report about the two Punjab government officials, currently in its custody. NAB officials informed the court that the two officials admitted to their crimes and pleaded for becoming approvers in their written statements. Their requests have been taken into account by NAB chairman and they were pardoned, the court was told.

The NAB report said Israr Saeed and Arif Butt informed NAB chairman about all wrong-doings in Ashiana housing scheme and made various revelations. The two officials were also produced before the court, where they recorded their statements before a judicial magistrate and admitted that they misused their authority in the Ashiana housing scheme affairs.

The court remanded both in judicial custody for 15 more days and ordered for their production again on April 13. Meanwhile, PM’s Principal Secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad and Punjab Health Minister Khwaja Salman Rafique appeared before NAB Lahore on Thursday and recorded their statements.

NAB had summoned Fawad and Salman for questioning them in Ashiana Housing scandal. Both remained inside the NAB office for more than an hour and responded to various queries. It was the second appearance of Fawad before the NAB team.

NAB had detected alleged illegalities and corruption worth around Rs14 billion in the Ashiana Housing project, a low-cost housing project of the Punjab government. Railways Minister Khwaja Saad Rafique had also appeared before NAB on Wednesday and recorded his statement in the same case.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and other government officials have also recorded their statements before NAB. Over half a dozen government officials including LDA former director general Ahad Khan Cheema are under arrest in the case involving an award of contract to a private firm.