NAB presents Shehbaz Sharif before accountability court

Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif was presented before an accountability court on Saturday after he was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Rs14 billion Ashiana Housing case.

During the hearing today, which is being conducted by accountability court Judge Najmul Hasan, NAB will ask for a 14-day physical remand of the the PML-N president. Shehbaz's lawyers, Amjad Pervez and Azam Nazeem Tarar,  are also present in court to present their arguments.

Shehbaz was taken to court amid strict security. His armored vehicle was escorted by a fire brigade, an ambulance and police mobiles, local media reported. A large number of security officials have been posted inside and outside the accountability court.

Supporters and workers of PML-N have gathered outside the court as they have been refused entrance by the police officials.  A scuffle also broke out between the workers and the police as they were refused entrance.

The opposition leader's son Hamza Shehbaz is the only one who was allowed to go inside court, while Marriyum Aurangzeb, Pervez Malik and Rana Sanaullah along with other PML-N leaders were not granted entrance.

On Friday, NAB arrested Shehbaz for corruption in the Ashiana housing scheme case. Lahore Development Authority former director general Ahad Cheema and former principal secretary to deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Fawad Hasan Fawad accused in the same case have already been remanded into NAB custody. Fawad had named Shehbaz in his statement before NAB and provided evidence against him.