LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has tightened the noose around another close confidant of former premier Nawaz Sharif -- Khawaja Muhammad Asif -- and opened a probe against him for “illegally” establishing a housing project in his hometown Sialkot.

The NAB on Wednesday summoned Khawaja Asif for June 26, asking him to appear before a combined investigation team (CIT) at its provincial headquarters at Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore, along with relevant record with regard to the affairs of the Kent View Housing Society, Sialkot.

In the notice to the senior PML-N leader, NAB said: “Evidence collected so far prima facie reveals that you (Kh Asif) established a housing project, namely Kent View Housing Society Sialkot which has been operating illegally. You are required to submit a reply to the following queries – what are the sources and local amount of funds invested in the project by you, your family members (wife and son) and other partners/close relatives.”

Probe into ‘irregularities’ in housing scheme

The NAB said Mr Asif, in collusion with the management of the society, illegally sold plots in excess of the approved layout plan of 137 kanals. “Khawaja Asif in connivance with the revenue authorities obtained relevant approvals despite the fact that the housing society in question was in illegal occupation of the state land.”

The NAB further observed that the former foreign minister had in collusion with the management of the society illegally occupied various pieces of land owned by individuals who never sold their land to the society.

The NAB is also holding investigations under section 18 (c) of the National Accountability Ordinance against other owners and developers of the Kent View Housing Society Sialkot, including former director of the Anti-Corruption Establishment, Gujranwala, Sheikh Fareed, ACE ADI Qasim.

On Dawn’s query with regard to NAB’s notice, Mr Asif said: “I will submit my reply in this respect to NAB and will not talk on this matter in the media.”

Earlier, the NAB had launched a probe into allegations of money laundering against Khawaja Asif on the complaint of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Dar, who also hails from Sialkot.

Usman Dar had accused Khawaja Asif of concealing his offshore assets from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), claiming the PML-N stalwart was getting a monthly salary of Rs1.6 million from an Abu Dhabi-based firm. The complaint contained “details” of Mr Asif’s alleged offshore firm and business. It also alleged that millions of rupees were being deposited in Mr Asif’s foreign bank account.

According to a source, the NAB had closed this (money laundering) investigation against Mr Asif for want of evidence.

However, NAB’s spokesperson Nawazish Ali Asim told Dawn that the bureau would inform the media about the status of this inquiry after getting a reply from the department concerned.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2020