LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s son-in-law Imran Ali Yousaf skipped appearance in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday in a corruption case of the Punjab Power Development Company (PPDC).

Mr Yousaf is accused of receiving millions of rupees from the former chief executive officer (CEO) of the PPDC. “Imran Ali Yousaf neither appeared before a combined investigation team of the NAB nor provided any reason for not turning up,” a source told Dawn. He said the NAB is likely to re-summon him.

The NAB in its notice to Mr Yousaf said: “The inquiry against Ikram Naveed, former CEO of PPDC, had revealed that you are in possession of evidence which relates to the commission of the said offenses. You are also required to record your statement with respect to amounts transferred by Ikram Naveed to you.”

The NAB is probing transferring of millions of rupees from the PPDC’s account to Mr Yousaf’s bank account. “The CM’s son-in-law is also accused of getting Mr Naveed appointed as PPDC CEO, who allegedly committed massive corruption,” a source said.

Ikram Naveed is in the NAB custody till April 25 on a physical remand.

Meanwhile, the bureau also delivered summons for ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s appearance at its Lahore office on April 21 in connection with misusing his authority for “illegal” construction of a road leading to his residence in Jati Umra, Raiwind.

According to an official, a NAB team visited Mr Sharif’s Jati Umra residence and delivered the summons there. According to the NAB notice: “Investigation has revealed that you (Nawaz Sharif) being then prime minister illegally convened a meeting on March 15, 1998 regarding construction of the road from Adda Plot to Sundar Mull (Raiwind area) by utilising the funds of Zila Council Lahore for your personal benefit.”

The NAB asked Nawaz to explain his position regarding his “illegal direction” to the authorities concerned to enhance the width of the road from 20 feet to 24 feet for his “personal benefit”, which resulted in cost escalation. “It has also been revealed that you exercised the authority which was not vested with you by passing illegal directions on the project funded by Zila Council Lahore.”

The notice further says: “Being then prime minister you misused your authority by way of initiating the project for your personal benefit in connivance with your brother Shahbaz Sharif, who was the then chief minister of Punjab. Because of your (Nawaz) illegal direction the Zila Council Lahore had to drop various other projects of public welfare at the cost of the said project in connivance with Shahbaz Sharif.”

Published in Dawn, Aprill 17th, 2018