LAHORE: An accountability court on Thursday rejected a request by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for further physical remand of Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Opposition Leader in National Assembly, in Ashiana-i-Iqbal housing scheme scam and sent him to jail on judicial remand.
NAB produced Shehbaz Sharif before the court in strict security and sought his further physical remand, pleading that custody of the suspect was required to complete the investigation.
However, Shehbaz's counsel opposed the request saying that his client did not hide any financial transactions, assets and gifts. He submitted that complete details of Shehbaz's finances were provided in tax returns from 2011 to 2017.
He submitted that under tax laws, it was not mandatory to mention details of the gifts in 2011. He submitted that his client received an amount from the sale of a property and a part of the same was given in gift. He claimed that Shehbaz did not spend more than his income and urged the court to refuse NAB's demand for extension in physical remand.
Syed Najamul Hassan, the presiding judge, turned down NAB's request and sent Shehbaz to jail on judicial remand till Dec 13.
Meanwhile, a clash took place outside the court building between PML-N workers and police after the workers tried to remove barricades placed on the road. The police resorted to baton-charge and arrested several PML-N workers.
Strict security arrangements were made inside and outside the court premises on this occasion, besides deployment of anti-riot force.
Shehbaz Sharif was in custody of NAB since October 5 for his alleged involvement in Rs 14 billion Ashiana Housing Scheme scam.
Senior bureaucrat Fawad Hassan Fawad and Lahore Development Authority (LDA) former director general Ahad Cheema and others had been arrested in connection with the housing scam.
NAB launched an investigation into the scam in November last after receiving a number of complaints.
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