Editor-in-chief of Geo/Jang Group Mir Shakilur Rahman was arrested in Lahore by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday in a case pertaining to the purchase of a 54-kanal piece of land, said bureau spokesperson Nawazish Ali.
Rahman had appeared before NAB for the second time on Thursday to answer the bureau's questions about the land in question. He was subsequently arrested after failing to satisfy officials with his answer.
According to NAB, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had illegally leased the land to Rahman in 1986.
NAB will produce Rahman in front of an accountability court tomorrow for his physical remand.
On March 5, Rahman had appeared before the anti-corruption watchdog and had informed the bureau that he had purchased the land from a private owner and that he possessed evidence of the same.
Rahman had said that he was hopeful that the watchdog and the courts will decide the case fairly.
Speaking to the media outside, he had said that similar accusations had been levelled against him in the past as well but had been proven to be false.The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested on Thursday Editor-in-chief of Jang Group Mir Shakilur Rahman in a case pertaining to the illegal allotment of 54 plots.
He was taken into custody following his appearance in the anti-corruption watchdog’s bureau in Lahore after he failed to give satisfactory answers during the interrogation, according to sources. He was also grilled by NAB on March 5.
The graft buster has alleged that then former chief minister Nawaz Sharif had illegally leased the land to the Jang group CEO in 1986.
Rehman will appear before before an accountability court in Lahore on Friday, NAB’s spokesperson said.A Jang Group spokesperson in a statement condemned the arrest, and accused the government of trying to stifle freedom of press.
He rejected NAB’s allegations saying Rehman had been arrested in a case pertaining to a 34-year old land deal with a private party, and that Jang Group would not bow to pressure with respect to freedom of press.
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