LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau has summoned PML-N chief Shahbaz Sharif’s son Hamza Shahbaz in the Punjab Saaf Pani Company scam on May 18.

Hamza has been summoned a day after NAB issued a notice to his father asking him to appear before a combined investigation team on June 4 in the same case.

In a notice to Hamza, NAB said: “The competent authority has taken cognisance of offence(s) committed by the subject accused persons (management and officials of Punjab Saaf Pani Company) under the provisions of NAO, 1999. The inquiry against management/officers/officials of Punjab Saaf Pani Company (South) and others has revealed that you are in possession of information/evidence whatsoever, which relates to the commission of said offence(s).”

The bureau further said: “Moreover, you (Hamza) attended various meetings related to issues pertaining to the affairs of Punjab Saaf Pani Company. In view of this you are called upon to appear before the NAB team at its Lahore office.”

On Thursday, Punjab Finance Minister Ayesha Ghaus-Pasha and PML-N MPA Waheed Gul appeared before NAB and recorded their statements in connection with the inquiry. The bureau’s combined investigation team quizzed Ms Ayesha and Mr Gul for more than two hours over the affairs of the company. Both the minister and the MPA remained part of the Board of Directors of the Saaf Pani Company when illegalities were committed.

NAB in November last had launched a thorough probe into the affairs of the 56 public sector companies formed by Shahbaz Sharif administration in Punjab for their alleged involvement in corruption. These companies are accused of certain irregularities, recruitment in violation of procurement rules and merit, nepotism, and non-completion of various projects in time.

Meanwhile, former Punjab Saaf Pani Company’s south wing chairman MPA Muhammad Kashif Padhiar appeared before the NAB and recorded his statement.

NAB quizzed him for more than two hours on the affairs of the company during his stint as chairman.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2018