News Analysis |
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s ex-principle secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad has been arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday [Today]. After the two and half hours of investigation at the NAB’s headquarters, he was unable to provide the satisfactory answers to NAB’s questions, which led to his arrest.
According to the sources, he misbehaved with the NAB officials, during the investigations and threatened them of dire consequences. He is currently under NAB’s custody and will be presented in the accountability court tomorrow for judicial remand.
NAB only summons individuals after gathering substantial proofs pertaining to the involvement of the alleged culprits. If it remains unsatisfied with the provided replies, it results in the arrest.
Can NAB now establish a connection between Shehbaz and Fawad? Its a million dollar question. But given his intimacy with ‘House of Sharif’, it is a big blow to Sharif’s and could prove decisive in the games of thrones on July 25.
According to the NAB, he was presented with the questionnaire pertaining to the number of accusations against him. Despite taking sufficiently long time, his response was deemed unsatisfactory. A number of accused who are in NAB’s custody had alleged that Fawad was directly responsible for illegal activities. NAB alleges that these officials are involved in fraud, embezzlement, corruption, and misuse of authority in the project, resulting in loss of millions of rupees to the government exchequer.
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NAB has accused him [Fawad] of a number of illegal actions/activities, which are following:
- Protected the Land mafia
- Shares in Lahore motorway housing scheme. He was also the member of the board of directors in the scheme.
- On his request, Ahad Cheema sanctioned the Ashiana scheme illegally.
- He transferred 9-CNG station illegally to other cities.
- In Ashiana Iqbal hosing societies, he gave illegal contracts
- Pressurized SM Latif and sons to terminate the contract
- Constructed a plaza in Rawalpindi with illegal money
- Was employed in a private bank illegally
- Pressurized the officials of Punjab land development company (PLDC)
NAB has been investigating the irregularities in the award of the contract of Ashiana Housing Society for some time now. Initially, he was accused of irregularities in the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and PLDC. He served as secretary to the project director of PLDC at that time of the crime and is alleged to have used his authority unlawfully to award the contract to another company.
NAB only summons individuals after gathering substantial proofs pertaining to the involvement of the alleged culprits. If it remains unsatisfied with the provided replies, it results in the arrest.
Earlier, he had denied any wrongdoing and showed complete alienation from Ashiana Housing Society. Fawad Hassan Fawad is one of the most influential bureaucrats of the country and was suspected of being one of the main suspects in the Dawn Leaks chain and is considered the former prime minister’s most favorite senior bureaucrat reputed to be acting as a de facto premier.
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It is believed that he in possession of evidence regarding award and cancellation of contract pertaining to Ashiana-e-Iqbal Project launched by PLDC. Speculations are rife that knowing the importance of Fawad’s standing in PML-N’s circles, if he confesses to his crimes, it may lead NAB to other big guns and high profile figures.
As expected, after Fawad’s arrest, Ashiana Housing society case might turn out to be the Panama Papers case for the Pakistan Muslim League-president and former chief minister of Punjab Shehbaz Sharif.
NAB has been investigating the irregularities in the award of the contract of Ashiana Housing Society for some time now. Initially, he was accused of irregularities in the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and PLDC.
According to the sources, after the lack of cooperation from Fawad, NAB had investigated his personal assets, which led to a breakthrough into the investigation. Moreover, the anomalies between his initial investigations, submitted response and facts established after the capture of Cheema with other officials may have brought solid proofs to arrest him.
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Can NAB now establish a connection between Shehbaz and Fawad? Its a million dollar question. But given his intimacy with ‘House of Sharif’, it is a big blow to Sharif’s and could prove decisive in the games of thrones on July 25.