ISLAMABAD, Nov 19 (INP): The Supreme Court on Monday while hearing the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme case directed National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials to “work properly”.

A three- member bench headed by Justice Azmat Saeed was hearing bail pleas of Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme case suspects Munir Zia and Imtiaz Haider.

During the hearing, the assistant counsel of the suspects informed the court, “Zia’s lawyer, Azam Nazeer Tarrar, is busy with cases being heard at the SC’s Lahore Registry, thus, the hearing should be adjourned for three days.”

[timed-content-server show="11/20/2018 01:00 Asia/Karachi"]At this, Justice Saeed turned to the NAB prosecutor and asked, “What really is the case about?” The prosecutor responded, “The suspects caused a loss to the national exchequer through the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme. Someone else had won the contract but it was awarded to a company named CASA.” When Justice Saeed inquired if NAB had gotten CASA owners caught, the accountability watchdog’s investigation officer said, “CASA is a joint venture of three companies and an interim reference has been filed against six suspects.” “Former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif and Fawad Hasan Fawad have been arrested in connection to the case and investigated. A final reference will be filed later,” the investigation officer further said. Justice Saeed then questioned, “If CASA is a joint venture of three companies then how have only six suspects been arrested?” Further, the judge asked whether the main suspect in the case approached the court for bail. The NAB investigation officer responded, “Suspect Ahad Cheema has not filed a request in the Supreme Court as yet.” Justice Saeed remarked, “This is an important case and NAB should investigate properly. We are not making any decision today as counsels are not present.” The hearing of the case was then adjourned till November 29. Shehbaz has been in NAB’s custody since October 5 in connection to the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme case and his son, Hamza Shehbaz, has also been summoned for questioning in the case. INP/LK[/timed-content-server]