NAB decides to investigate Ali Jehangir in Ashiana scam

LAHORE: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to investigate former Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States Ali Jehangir Siddiqui, over charges of alleged corruption in Ashiana Housing scam, ARY News reported on Friday.

According to the sources, the anti-graft watchdog body, after completion of the inquiry against Ali Jehangir, has decided to transform it into an investigation.

“Soon an approval will be sought from the Chairman NAB in this regard,” the well informed sources said.

The former ambassador is facing charges of alleged corruption in Ashiana Iqbal Housing scam along with the former federal secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad.

NAB has availed evidence showing his business partnership with Fawad Hasan Fawad.

Sources further said that the accountability watchdog can issue arrest warrants of Mr Siddiqui over his noncooperation.

Ali Siddiqui has only appeared before the NAB despite being summoned several times.

Former chief minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif, former federal secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad, Former Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director general Ahad Cheema and others are already facing the charges of financial irregularities in Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme.

According to NAB, “the contract for the housing scheme was won by a construction company titled Chaudhry Latif and Sons but former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif and his aides awarded the Rs 14 billion contract to Lahore Casa Developers – a proxy group of Paragon City (Pvt) Limited, which is said to be owned by Railways Minister Saad Rafique”.

As per law, it is illegal to make any agreement above Rs150 million with a single company.

“Fawad Hasan Fawad, who was implementation secretary to the then chief minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif at the time, leveled charges of wrongdoings against Chaudhry Latif and Sons in order for the contract to be awarded to Casa Developers,” the anti-graft body claimed.

It was due to the hired company’s incompetence that the project could not be completed in three-year duration which brought upon a loss of Rs640 million to the government, NAB officials added.

The post NAB decides to investigate Ali Jehangir in Ashiana scam appeared first on ARYNEWS.

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