RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PNL-N) President Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday appeared before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) pertaining to an ongoing probe into the Saaf Pani Company and Punjab Power Company cases.

The NAB had summoned Shahbaz Sharif on July 5, over allegations that he being the former provincial chief minister misused his authority during his tenure.

Shahbaz, due to party commitments, had requested the NAB to summon him a day earlier on July 4. Thus he appeared before the NAB on Wednesday.

It may be noted that on June 26, the NAB had arrested Qamarul Islam Raja, former chairman of Saaf Pani Company and PML-N’s ticket holder from NA-59 Rawalpindi-III for his alleged role in awarding contracts to his “favourites.”

The NAB officials also apprehended former CEO of the company, Wasim Ajmal, who is accused of

making changes to the company’s documents after project bidding in violation of the rules.

The Punjab government had established Saaf Pani Company to conceive, plan, design, execute and manage projects for the provision of safe drinking water in terms of both access and quality to the communities living in unserved and underserved areas.

During the hearing, Shahbaz was asked questions related to the scandal for two and a half hours at NAB Lahore office, the sources added.