Friction between the Punjab government and National Accountability Bureau (NAB), on Friday, was observed over the arrest of Lahore Development Auth-ority's (LDA) former director general Ahad Cheema. NAB said that Cheema, by misuse of authority and with criminal intent, awarded a contract of the Ashiana-e-Iqbal project of approximately Rs 14 billion to Lahore Casa Developers, a joint-venture which was ineligible for the contract. He is also accused of receiving illegal gratification in the form of a 32-Kanal land valuing Rs 30.09 million approximately from the owners of Paragon City (Pvt) Ltd.
During an emergency meeting of the civil service officers at the Government Officers' Residences (GOR) in Lahore, a resolution against Cheema's arrest by the NAB was adopted. Speaking to the media in Lahore, the Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the provincial government has never supported any corrupt officer.
"We have always taken action against corrupt officers, and if any solid evidence is brought forth against Ahad Cheema we shall not support him," Sanaullah told the media. The spokesperson of the Punjab government Malik Ahmed Khan, stated that no reason was given for Cheema's arrest, adding that the former DG LDA would have appeared before NAB if the latter had sent a request to the chief secretary.
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