LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has given a ‘final opportunity’ to two PML-N MNAs – Javed Latif and Barjees Tahir – to join investigation in the assets beyond means or face action under Section 2 of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999.

Javed Latif, said to be a member of the Maryam Nawaz camp of the PML-N, has been summoned on Sept 9 to appear before a joint investigation team at the NAB provincial headquarters at Thokar Niaz Baig to record his statement.

In its notice issued on Saturday, NAB told Latif that it was a ‘final opportunity’ for him to join the proceedings. The Section 2 carries rigorous imprisonment for a term, which may extend to five years if the suspect refuses to cooperate with NAB in investigation.

The notice said: “The competent authority has taken cognizance of the offence(s) allegedly committed by you (Latif) under the provisions of NAO. During proceedings of the case it is prima facie established that you are involved in the commission of offences of corruption and corrupt practices through acquiring assets in your name and in the names of your benamidars/associates which are disproportionate to your known sources of income. You have been repeatedly asked to provide the details of your income, expenditures and assets acquired on an annual basis. You served with a detailed questionnaire but you failed to provide the said information”.

Latif, an MNA from Sheikhupura district, was released from jail a couple of months ago in a case of ‘inciting people against the state institutions’. In a television programme, Latif had said his party would not say “Pakistan Khappay” (long live Pakistan) if anything happened to its vice president Maryam Nawaz.

Javed Latif is accused of acquiring assets worth billions of rupees in the name of his siblings after coming into politics. Before entering politics, he reportedly lived in an inherited ‘12-marla’ house in Habib Colony, Sheikhupura. He allegedly acquired the majority of his assets in the name of his mother, a housewife and a non-tax filer, to park his black money.

The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has also initiated a land grabbing investigation against him in Sheikhupura.

In the other notice, NAB asked PML-N MNA from Sangla Hill Barjees Tahir to avail the ‘final opportunity’ to appear before its combined investigation team on Sept 10 at its Thokar Niaz Baig office along with relevant documents in investigation into assets beyond means.

The notice said: “Inquiry so far conducted reveals that as per income/sources of income declared by you (Tahir) before the bureau, assets acquired by you in your name and in the name of your family members (benamidars) are disproportionate to known sources of income. Despite repeated notices you failed to provide the required information/documents and to offer plausible explanations of assets/bank accounts.”

The PML-N has termed NABs action political victimisation of its leaders.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2021