ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) may suffer another jolt of possible disqualification of one of its prominent leaders from Islamabad, Anjum Aqeel Khan, as he is facing a fresh corruption case being investigated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

It will be the second case against the PML-N leader who is contesting the election from a National Assembly constituency in the federal capital (NA-54). He is already facing a corruption case relating to an illegal agreement of land signed between him and the National Police Foundation (NFP) for the latter’s housing scheme in sector E-11 in Islamabad.

According to NAB documents — available with Dawn — Aqeel Anjum has also made a controversial agreement with the family members of Pir of Golra about the allotment of 137 kanals (in Kill No 461-479/1) which fell in northern strip close to the foothills of Margalla hilly range between sectors E-11 and D-11.

According to the anti-graft watchdog, the fresh case is in the investigation stage against the PML-N leader which means that two earlier stages of the NAB’s probe (complaint verification and inquiry) have confirmed the involvement of Aqeel Anjum in the controversial land deal.

It has been learnt that following completion of the investigation process, a reference will be made against the PML-N candidates and it will be sent for trail to the same accountability court which recently gave the verdict against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Avenfield properties reference.

A number of attempts were made during the whole week to contact Anjum Khan, but he was not available for comments.

Another PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi, who is contesting the election from NA-60 is also likely to be disqualified in the ephedrine case whose verdict is scheduled to be issued on Saturday (today).

A number of other prominent N-League leaders are also facing NAB cases. They include former federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif, Saira Afzal Tarar, Khawaja Saad Rafique and Miftah Ismail.

NAB also wrote to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to ascertain how the land in question was allotted in the name of Pirs of Golra.

Anjum Khan is a known land dealer and remained involved in several land deals between the CDA and locals of Islamabad meant for acquisition of land for development of new residential sectors.

In October 2013, the Supreme Court had ordered the NAB to proceed against him and others involved in the NPF land scam.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2018