LAHORE – The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has arrested one of thecountry’s senior-most bureaucrats, Fawad Hassan Fawad, in the Ashiana IqbalHousing Scheme case, according to sources.
However, NAB officials said the top civil servant has not been arrested andhis questioning is still under way. A bureau spokesperson said the NABchairman will make a decision on Fawad’s arrest.
Fawad had been summoned by NAB today for questioning in the housing schemescam. He has appeared at least thrice before as part of NAB’s investigation.
Fawad served as former PM Nawaz Sharif’s principal secretary and isconsidered close to the former premier.
Fawad was removed from the post of principal secretary on June 1 this yearand appointed director general of Civil Services Academy, Lahore.
Fawad is wanted for his alleged role in illegally awarding the contract forAshiana-e-Iqbal Housing Scheme of the Punjab government.
Fawad is also being probed by NAB for possession of assets beyond knownsources of income as well as for alleged illegal award of CNG contracts.
According to NAB, the contract for the housing scheme was won by aconstruction company titled Chaudhry Latif and Sons.
However, NAB says then Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his aidesawarded the contract to Lahore Casa Developers — a proxy group of ParagonCity (Pvt) Limited, which is said to be owned by Railways Minister SaadRafique.
Fawad, who was implementation secretary to the chief minister Punjab at thetime, levelled charges of wrongdoings against Chaudhry Latif and Sons inorder for the contract to be awarded to Casa Developers.
Shehbaz has already appeared before NAB in the case while former LahoreDevelopment Authority chairman Ahad Cheema is on judicial remand afterhaving been arrested over the case.