LAHORE: An accountability court on Tuesday granted seven-day physical remand of former managing director of Punjab Mineral Development Corporation (Punjmin) Manzar Hayat to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Chiniot mines corruption case.

The NAB produced him before the court and sought 15-day physical remand for interrogation.

Hayat is accused of awarding illegal contract worth billions of rupees to a company in the 69th meeting of the Punjmin.

The bureau alleged that the suspect had forwarded the summary of the contract to then secretary of mines and minerals department Imtiaz Alam, who was also a suspect in the same case.

The court allowed seven-day remand of the suspect to the NAB and directed it to produce him again on Oct 29.

Former provincial minister Sibtain Khan was also arrested in this case and later released on bail by the Lahore High Court. Mr Khan is a PTI lawmaker from Mianwali.

The NAB alleged that Mr Khan violated laws and awarded the multi-billion contract to a firm of his choice during 2007 when he was minister for mines and minerals in the PML-Q government.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2019