04 February 2005	Friday	24 Zilhaj 1425

LAHORE, Feb 3: Mian Muhammad Rashid, who was the adviser to the Punjab chief minister in 1994, has been arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on corruption and corrupt practices charges as defined in the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.

NAB authorities conducted a raid and arrested him while he was attending the marriage of a close relative here, says a NAB press release issued here on Thursday. Mian Rashid, the son of ex-MPA Mian Fakharuddin from Shakargarh, was elected as a member of the Sialkot district council in 1983 and as MPA in 1985 and 1988.

He became MPA and MLA of Azad Kashmir in 1990 and 1993, and became adviser to the chief minister in 1994. He was appointed as special assistant to the chief minister in 1995, became MLA in 1996, and appointed as minister for Azad Jammu Kashmir in 1998.

The NAB claimed that he amassed properties worth Rs16 million till 1998 in his own and family members' name which was disproportionate to his known sources of income. He could not reasonably account for the huge bank accounts maintained by him and luxury vehicles under his use.

He also misused his authority, according to the NAB. He was absconding since February, 2001, for which he was convicted under Section 31-A of the 1999 ordinance. -APP