LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore has re-summoned former prime minister Nawaz Sharif for May 20 for allegedly misusing his authority for illegal construction of a road leading to his residence in Jati Umra, Raiwind.

Earlier, the bureau had sent the PML-N Quaid a notice asking him to appear before its combined investigation team on April 21, but the ousted premier could not appear before it as he was in London to inquire after his ailing wife Kulsoom Nawaz Sharif.

“Mr Sharif has been re-summoned by NAB for May 20 at Thokhar Niaz Baig (office) before a combined investigation team,” an official told Dawn on Sunday.

In its earlier notice, the NAB said: “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 by utilising funds of Zila Council Lahore for your personal benefit.”

Mr Sharif is accused of giving “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 the Zila Council Lahore,” it reads.

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 then the chief minister of Punjab. Because of your (Nawaz Sharif) 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.”

NAB has already issued a notice to Shahbaz Sharif with a direction to submit a complete record of the “illegal construction” of the road.

It has not been confirmed whether the younger Sharif complied with this direction.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2018