LAHORE: The Anti Corruption Establishment (ACE) on Tuesday told the Lahore High Court that no case had been registered against former chief minister Usman Buzdar, however, 10 inquiries were pending against him at D.G Khan office.

The ACE reply showed that all the 10 inquiries against Buzdar were initiated during the current year.

Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh was hearing a petition of Buzdar seeking details of cases registered against him.

In light of the report filed by the ACE, the judge disposed of the petition.

Meanwhile, the ACE has summoned Usman Buzdar for March 30 on the charge of building the Buzdar House on the government land.

According to the ACE, Mr Buzdar illegally occupied government land worth millions of rupees at Fort Munro and constructed Buzdar House on two kanals.

“Usman Buzdar misused his authority and seized two kanals of commercial government land with the connivance of the finance department staff,” it said.

The ACE also summoned the officers of the Punjab finance department along with the relevant records.

The ACE had also summoned former governor Umar Sarfraz Cheema for investigation on March 28 but he did not appear. It said Cheema illegally inherited his sister’s share through a fake family registration certificate.

BAIL: An accountability court on Tuesday extended the interim pre-arrest bail of Usman Buzdar in an inquiry into illegal assets and misuse of authority by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Buzdar did not appear before the court as his counsel said the former chief minister tested positive for Covid-19. The counsel sought a one time exemption from personal appearance for Buzdar.

The court allowed the request and extended the bail of Buzdar till April 10.

Buzdar’s counsel argued that the NAB with mala fide intention and in connivance with the incumbent federal government had been politically victimising the petitioner. He said all the allegations against the petitioner were baseless.

He asked the court to set aside the impugned inquiry for being illegal.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2023