LAHORE: A Lahore High Court division bench on Wednesday sought a reply from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on a bail petition moved by former head of the Lahore Parking Company (LPC) Hafiz Mian Nauman facing charges of misappropriation in the company’s funds.

The NAB said Mr Nauman, also a former MPA of the PML-N, was the first chairman of the parking company when it was established in 2013. It alleged that Nauman and other suspects were guilty of causing a loss of over Rs1 billion to the national exchequer.

The petitioner is in jail on judicial remand as directed by an accountability court.

During the bail proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel, Asad Manzoor Butt, argued that his client was elected as an MPA in 2013 and later given an honorary position as the company’s chairman. He said the petitioner being the chairman never drew any emolument and used to attend its board’s meetings on ceremonial basis only. He said the petitioner had resigned from the LPC chairmanship on Dec 30, 2016.

The counsel further argued that the company lawfully awarded contracts of parking lots in a transparent manner and strictly observed procurement rules. He also questioned the NAB inquiry into the parking contracts.

Asking the court to release the petitioner on bail, the counsel stated that his client was an aged person and his health was not good too. Moreover, he said keeping the petitioner behind the bars would serve no purpose as the NAB had already completed its investigation.

The bench headed by Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan adjourned hearing till Jan 17 and sought a reply from the NAB.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2019