Nawaz fails to appear before NAB in illegal road-widening case

LAHORE: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif failed to appear the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for questioning in a case pertaining to misuse of official powers in construction of a road leading to the Sharif family residence in Jati Umra, Raiwind.
According to official, NAB’s combined investigation team had summoned Nawaz over allegations that the Sharif brothers ‘misused’ their authority to increase the cover area of the road between Raiwind and their family residence.
The anti-graft body claims the road was widened from 20 to 24 feet, and that the case involves alleged misappropriation of Rs125 million.
It is alleged that the funds allocated for development projects by District Council, Lahore were used for construction of the road.
Investigations against the Sharif brothers in the case were initiated by NAB on April 17, 2000.
NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal recently ordered a reinvestigation of the case after which the bureau will submit a reference in an accountability court.
Earlier, Nawaz had not appeared before the bureau despite a summons as he was in London at the time. He was, therefore, summoned once again by the NAB and is expected to appear before the bureau today.