LHC issues notice to NAB on Ahad Cheema plea against arrest

LAHORE: A Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench on Thursday issued notices to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) authorities for March 1 on a petition filed by former director general of Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Ahad Khan Cheema challenging his arrest in Ashiana-e-Iqbal housing scam.

The bench comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh heard the matter.

During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel Azam Nazir Tarar submitted that the NAB authorities had arrested his client on charges of corruption in Ashiana-e-Iqbal housing project.

He said that it was alleged that Ahad Cheema misused his authority as LDA's head and awarded a Rs 14 billion contract of Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Scheme to Lahore Casa Developers, a joint venture, which was ineligible for the purpose.

He said that the authorities also alleged that the accused received illegal gratification in the form of 32 kanal land from one of the shareholder companies of the said joint venture.

Tarar contended that all allegations levelled against his client were baseless.

He submitted that the contract was awarded to Lahore Casa Developers in a transparent manner whereas his client acquired the 32 Kanal land legally and same was mentioned in his declaration of assets.

He said that in response to NAB notices, Ahad Cheema had asked the NAB authorities for providing details of documents required by them as well as statement of allegations.

However, the NAB authorities, got offended from his client's reply and arrested him on Feb 21, he submitted.

The counsel submitted that it was a politically motivated case and his client was unnecessarily arrested in this matter. He pleaded with the court to declare arrest of Ahad Cheema illegal.

The bench after hearing initial arguments issued notices to the NAB authorities for March 1 and sought reply.

It is pertinent to mention here that an accountability court remanded Ahad Khan Cheema in NAB custody for 11 days on Thursday morning.