LAHORE: Accountability court on Tuesday approved a 14-day physical remand of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Engineer Qamarul Islam and Waseem Ajmal accused in Saaf Pani Company corruption case.
Former Chief executive officers (CEO) of the company Islam and Ajmal were arrested on Monday and appeared before the accountability bureau’s Lahore office.
During the hearing, Islam’s lawyer argued that the proceedings against his client were based merely on accusations.
He added that NAB neither had any evidence against Islam nor was any complaint filed against his client with the anti-graft body.
Islam’s councel claimed that his client was being victimized to damage his political reputation, accusing NAB of colluding with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to defae Islam in the upcoming general elections.
PML-N leader contesting from NA-59 Rawalpindi-III against disgruntled Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has previously served as the CEO of the Saaf Pani Company.
Islam has been accused of awarding contracts for 84 water treatment plants at a higher price. Ajmal, Islam’s predecessor is also accused under the same charges in the case.
Ajmal informed the court that he had been employed by the government for 25 years, however he had been demoted to Officer on Special Duty (OSD) after he refused to follow the instructions of the provincial chief minister.
The Defendant asserted that “we advertised for new contracts after the project was completed before its estimated completion date. I was removed from my position for awarding the contract on the basis of merit.”
NAB prosecutor Waris Ali Janjua argued that Islam was the director when Ajmal was appointed as the CEO, however the installation of eight plant in Dunyapur, Hasilpur,Khanpur, Manchana Abad among other areas was done during Islam’s tenure.
Islam was the CEO of Saaf Pani Company, NAB prosecutor said that he was hired before a notice had been issued.
NAB prosecutor requested the court to grant a physical remand of the accused.
The court reserved its verdict on the plea, approving a 14-day physical remand.
