LAHORE:5 important witnesses of NAB have declared Prime Minister (PM) Shahbaz Sharif innocent in Asiana Iqbal Housing Society (AIHS) reference.
AIHS reference against PM Shahbaz Sharif and others came up for hearing before Accountability Court (AC) Lahore Saturday.
Anwar Hussain appeared in the court on behalf of PM Shahbaz Sharif.
AC recorded the statements of NAB witnesses.
NAB prosecutor Waris Janjua got recorded evidence of witnesses.
NAB witnesses said no illegal work has been done in this project. Open bid was held as per law. Project was signed. Project was financed through financial committee. All the documents of this project were designed as per law.
NAB witness deputy commissioner Layyah, Khalid Pervez while recording his statement took the plea he was posted as director LDA from 2013 to 2015. He signed AIHS implementation project. He appeared before NAB investigation officer on March 06, 2018 and recorded his statement.
The second witness of NAB Mehmood Ahmad Sulehri said LDA constituted a committee on AIHS and asked NESPAK to nominate a member. NESPAK nominated him as member. Bid evaluation was carried out by a committee.
He stated “ I was sent to steering committee. I joined investigation on March 09, 2018 and gave statement.
The court also recorded statement of NAB witness Hussain Ahmad design specialist.
Hussain Ahmad said “ I was appointed as design specialist in 2014. I had worked out proposal for AIHS. I made standard with reference to structure and three committees were constituted. These were bid opening committee, technical evaluation committee and financial evaluation committee. Every bid was received in the presence of video cameras.
The statement of NAB witness Shahid Kamran, former research analyst LDA was also recorded.
Shahid Kamran took the plea that he remained posted as research analyst in LDA from May 2014 to May 2016.
The court while summoning the counsels for cross examination in connection with statements of the witnesses adjourned the hearing of the case till March 25.
It is pertinent to mention here the court has granted permanent exemption to Shahbaz Sharif from attendance.