Illegal road-widening: Nawaz again fails to appear before NAB

By News desk

LAHORE: Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif again failed to appear before National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore for questioning on Sunday in connection with “illegal widening of a road from Raiwind Road to Jati Umra residences of the Sharif family.

Over his non-cooperation, NAB has decided to file another reference against him, according to sources.

Also, Accountability Court Islamabad will hear Avenfield apartments case today (Monday) and Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar record their statements. They have already been handed over 29-page questions, to which they would submit their replies in the court.

As far as Sunday appearance was concerned, Nawaz Sharif had been accused of misuse of authority for widening of the road, which caused Rs125 million losses to the national exchequer.

It was for the second time that the former premier failed to appear before the NAB authorities. Earlier, NAB had summoned Nawaz on April 21, when he failed to appear before the authorities.

The sources told this scribe that the matter would be placed in the weekly meeting of NAB Lahore for further discussion. It could also be referred to NAB Islamabad Headquarters, he added. They said a reference could also be filed without obtaining statement of Nawaz Sharif as homework of the Bureau in the scam is complete. Also, all legalities had been fulfilled including twice summoning of the accused.