-Jang, Geo owner failed to give satisfactory reply during due process, says NAB
From Abid Usman
LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau on Thursday apprehended Jang and Geo News owner Mir Shakilur Rehman in a case pertaining to a land scam, media reported.
According to the details, Mir Shakilur Rehman appeared before the NAB’s investigation team in Lahore but failed to give satisfactory answers to the questions.
The anti-graft watchdog arrested Mir Shakilur Rehman after he failed to furnish the supportive evidence in connection with the land which he had acquired during the tenure of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
According to NAB, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had illegally leased the land to Rahman in 1986. NAB will produce Rahman in front of an accountability court tomorrow for his physical remand.It was the second time when NAB summoned Mir Shakilur Rehman in the land scam. Earlier on March 5, the anti-graft watchdog had interrogated Mir Shakil for two hours in the case.
Earlier on February 10, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal had said that all mega corruption cases will be brought to their logical end.
Presiding over a high-level meeting in Islamabad, the NAB chairman had reviewed the overall performance of the anti-graft watchdog. During the meeting, Javed Iqbal had been briefed over the investigation into different corruption cases at the NAB Islamabad Office.
Rahman had said that he was hopeful that the watchdog and the courts would decide the case fairly.
Speaking to the media outside, he had said that similar accusations had been leveled against him in the past as well but had been proven to be false.
According to the Jang Group’s spokesperson, Thursday’s appearance before the NAB was in a relation to a call-up notice for the verification of the complaint, yet an arrest was made.
“In the past 18 months, NAB has sent our reporters, producers, and editors directly and indirectly over a dozen notices, threatening a shutdown of our channels (via PEMRA) due to our reporting and our programmes on NAB,” said the spokesperson. “In its defence, the NAB has in writing said it is a constitutionally protected institution that cannot be criticised.
NAB has also, through several means, tried to persuade the group to step back, to stop stories, among other measures in its favor at the expense of the full truth.
