LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif for May 13 in the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) scam.

The notice came on a day when severe doubts were cast on Mr Shahbaz Sharif’s political future as rumours were doing the rounds that he would extend his stay in London ‘under some deal’. The PML-N denied any such deal.

The PML-N says Shahbaz Sharif will return before the upcoming budget after getting medical treatment there.

Mr Sharif’s decision to give up the chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee in the National Assembly drew a vicious attack from the opposition and the PML-N appeared to be wanting in its defence of one of their top leaders and the first-choice replacement for the banned Mian Nawaz Sharif.

Rumours about party head’s extended stay set tongues wagging

Strong ripples were felt in Lahore that has been the venue for the ‘Shahbazian feats’ that have won the former chief minister wide following. There was no immediate outpouring of emotion as both the PML-N and its opponents weighed the impact of his move to step down as the PAC chief. However, much exciting action seemed to be in store over the subject.

Knowing that Mr Sharif is in London and no confirmed date of his return has been given, the NAB on Thursday issued a notice asking him to appear before a combined investigation team in the Lahore Waste Management Company investigation on May 13.

Shahbaz Sharif, opposition leader in the National Assembly, has been on bail in Ashiana and Ramzan Sugar Mills cases. Besides, he is also facing income beyond means and money laundering investigation by NAB.

According to NAB’s initial investigation, Shahbaz Sharif and his sons Hamza and Salman had accumulated assets to the tune of Rs3 billion which were disproportionate to their known sources of income. “The suspects in order to justify the acquisition of assets have mentioned foreign remittances worth Rs1.3bn.”

NAB has also sent a questionnaire to his wife and two daughters seeking details of all foreign remittances claimed/received by them. Sources of funds for acquisition and increase in assets during 2008-17, details/sources of year-wise investment (equity and director’s loan) in all the companies and businesses have also been sought.

The three women have also been asked about details of gifts and salaries received since 2008, including the particulars of persons from whom gifts were received and the companies from where salaries were withdrawn.

Salman and Shahbaz’s son-in-law Imran Ali Yousuf, who is wanted in the Saaf Pani Company scam, are also in the UK.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2019