LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday sought a reply from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on a petition by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s MPA Ghazanfar Abbas Cheena challenging an ‘assets beyond means’ inquiry against him.

Mr Cheena, through his counsel, submitted that all his assets, properties had already been declared in his tax documents submitted before the authorities concerned.

He said the NAB initiated the inquiry against him “without any cogent evidence” of any corrupt practice or violation of law.

He asked the court to set aside the inquiry and call-up notices being issued by the NAB.

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Masood Abid Naqvi and Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem directed the NAB to submit its reply by July 28.

The bench allowed the NAB to submit reply to a petition by PML-N MNA Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha challenging an alleged assets beyond means probe against him.

A NAB prosecutor sought time to file a reply and the bench adjourned hearing till July 27.

Mr Ranjha, through a counsel, stated the NAB had been issuing call-up notices to him in the impugned inquiry.

He said the petitioner made several requests to the bureau in writing to furnish him details of the complaint and allegations against him, but to no avail.

The counsel said all assets and properties owned by the petitioner were declared in the tax documents.

He alleged that the bureau initiated the inquiry against the petitioner on political considerations.

He asked the court to set aside the call-up notices and the inquiry being unlawful.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2020