LAHORE: PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif on Monday failed to appear before the national anti-graft body investigating corruption cases involving public sector companies.
However, Ameer Afzal, a representative of the chief minister, appeared on his behalf before NAB authorities at bureau’s Lahore office.
A source familiar with the development said the representative of the CM submitted written replies to some questions. Shehbaz Sharif’s representative left the NAB office after handing over written answers to the investigators.
An official said the authority would issue another notice to the former chief executive of the province with the direction to appear before the investigators again on June 25 since he failed to show up on Monday. “The next proceedings (of the Saaf Pani Company case) will be held on June 25,” he added.
Shehbaz on Sunday appeared before the country’s top court and responded to questions about public sector companies. But he did show up at the NAB office in Lahore on Monday.
Since November the authority has been probing into alleged corruption in the 56 public sector companies formed by the provincial government under the administrative control of the CM Shehbaz Sharif. Also, these public sector companies have been accused of financial embezzlement, making appointments against merit and committing violation of procurement policy.
Officials believe billions of rupees were embezzled in the Saaf Pani Company alone.
The anti-graft body last month had summoned Shehbaz Sharif to appear before a combined investigation team in Lahore in connection with the Saaf Pani Company. The CM was also directed to bring the relevant record along with him.
