The Nishat Group on Saturday vehemently rejected what it called a false and frivolous complaint lodged with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against main sponsor of the group and renowned businessman Mian Muhammad Mansha.
“A false, frivolous and malicious campaign has been initiated and pursued by certain vested quarters against the Nishat Group. The entire objective is to malign the name of the group, which is one of the premier business institutions of the country,” a statement issued by the group said. “These vested quarters are now maligning the personal repute of Mian Muhammad Mansha, the main sponsor of the group,” it said, amid reports that NAB Lahore has summoned Mian Mansha to appear before it on August 17 in a case related to alleged irregularities in acquisition of a property in UK. Pakistan Workers Party Chairperson Farooq Salaria has reportedly filed a petition against Mian Mansha, accusing him of illegally transferring millions of dollars to Britain.
“In the past, they have unsuccessfully racked up, intermittently and without success, the issue of the privatisation of the MCB Bank and the supply of uniforms to the security agencies. The have now laid challenge to the acquisition of St James Hotel & Club, UK,” the statement said. “This exercise has failed earlier, particularly in relation to the hotel, before the Islamabad High Court as a case instituted against the stated property in which Mian Mansha was one of the respondents has already been dismissed by a division bench of the said court,” it continued.
“Aggrieved by their unsuccessful attempts and frustrated with their failure to cause damage to the person of Mian Muhammad Mansha, they have now lodged a false and frivolous complaint with NAB. This ill motivated exercise will surely stand defeated,” the statement concluded.
When contacted, NAB Lahore Spokesman Zeeshan Anwar confirmed to Daily Times that a complaint against Mian Mansha has been lodged with the anti-graft watchdog. “We will investigate the allegations mentioned in the complaint under NAB laws. The complainant will have to prove his claims. If the allegations are proven wrong, the proceedings will be automatically dismissed,” he said.
Published in Daily Times, August 12th 2018.
