ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court today dismissed the reference of National Accountability Bureau relating to corruption in Narowal Sports City against PML-N federal minister Ahsan Iqbal.
In 2019, the NAB arrested Iqbal and in 2020, an accountability court indicted him in this case.
The NAB alleged that the minister for planning and development misused his authority and unlawfully increased the cost of the project from Rs34.75 million to Rs2,994 million.
NAB alleged the sports city project was planned without any feasibility in 1999 and its initial cost was approved at a cost of Rs34.74 million by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP).
NAB further asserted that Ahsan Iqbal illegally ordered the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and NESPAK to increase the project’s cost.
PML-N Minister, nonetheless, denied all the allegations and also moved Islamabad’s court to have the reference against him dismissed.
During today’s hearing, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah asked NAB’s prosecutor whether the accountability watchdog had any evidence of corruption against Iqbal.
“[Development] on a project, which was being built for the people’s benefit was stopped. Tell me, who is responsible for stopping a project that was for the benefit of the people?”
The IHC CJ scolded the NAB prosecutor as he was unable to provide evidence of corruption against Ahsan Iqbal.
