LAHORE: PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif’s sons Hamza and Salman again did not appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday in connection with an investigation into their father’s assets beyond means.

Earlier, both brothers skipped Oct 30 NAB hearing with regard to a probe into construction of a bridge in Chiniot.

A PML-N leader told Dawn that Hamza could not reach the NAB office at Thokar Niaz Beg because of traffic blockade caused by protests in connection with acquittal of Aasia Bibi.

Hamza on Thursday had secured a pre-arrest interim bail till Nov 13.

Salman skipped both NAB hearings as he is in London.

Last month Salman had appeared before the NAB regarding provision of the property record of his family.

According to the NAB, “During interrogation Shahbaz has stated that all of his matters relevant to assets, income and expenditures are being looked after by Salman. Therefore, he should appear before a combined investigation team along with documents of all assets, properties including those sold out here or abroad, documents pertaining to sources of income, complete income tax returns and wealth tax returns, details of investments/shareholding in companies in and outside Pakistan.”

In the other case, the NAB had summoned both the brothers in the capacity of being directors of Ramzan Sugar Mills as they had allegedly got constructed a bridge linking to their mills in Chiniot from the public money.

“An amount of Rs200 million was spent on it. Shahbaz had allegedly approved the construction of the bridge which the NAB termed illegal,” an official said.

The bureau had on Oct 5 arrested Shahbaz Sharif in the Ashiana-i-Iqbal housing project scam. The opposition leader in the National Assembly is remanded in NAB custody till Nov 7 on a physical remand.

Hamza is also facing investigation in the Punjab Saaf Pani Company case for allegedly presiding over the meetings of board of directors despite the fact that he was not even its member.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2018