The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Lahore on Friday summoned former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on April 21 to record his statement in a case pertaining to the alleged misuse of authority in constructing a road from Raiwind to Jati Umra, the residence of the Sharif family.
NAB has alleged that the Sharif brothers misused their authority to increase the width of the road between Raiwind and the Sharif family residence. A notification issued by the graft buster said that the width of the road was increased from 20ft to 24ft, which resulted in cost escalation of the project in the deposed premier’s ‘personal benefit’. The case involves the alleged misappropriation of Rs 125 million. It is alleged that the funds allocated for development projects of the Lahore District Council were used for the construction of the road and that the council had to drop various other projects of public welfare at the cost of the said project on Nawaz Sharif’s ‘illegal’ directives.
According to NAB’s investigation, Nawaz being the then prime minister of the country had used his ‘undue influence’ on local administration for the project in connivance with Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Investigations against the Sharif brothers in the case were initiated by NAB on April 17, 2000.
Nawaz is already facing trial at an accountability court in Islamabad over a reference filed by NAB related to Avenfield properties in London.
Published in Daily Times, April 14th 2018.
