LAHORE - Secretary to Prime Minister Fawad Hassan Fawad did not turn up before NAB in an inquiry against the management of Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC).

The bureau had called him to appear before the joint investigation team (JIT) of NAB on Thursday and answer its questions.

It is worth mentioning here that NAB has also summoned former LDA DG Ahad Khan Cheema on Friday (today) to appear in the same case.

Sources said the NAB team was sure that Fawad would appear otherwise there is a provision in the law to summon any accused through the court of law. They said the NAB chairman was also authorised to issue arrest orders for any accused having failed to comply with the bureau summons.

Sources in NAB said M/S Latif and Sons and M/S ConPro were two competitors in the Ashiana Iqbal bidding and the contract was awarded to M/S Latif and Sons, offering the lowest rates. After award of the contract, the CM office initiated an inquiry with the intention to oust the winning contractor.

They further claimed that Fawad Hassan Fawad, being secretary to the Punjab CM, called the Ashiana Iqbal project director in his office and intimidated him, levelling false allegations of wrongdoings in the award of contract of Aashiyana Iqbal to M/S Latif and Sons. He also directed him to cancel this contract illegally.

Project Director Moazzam Ali revealed in his statement that Fawad Hassan Fawad also met the PLDC CEO in his office when he (Moazzam Ali) was also present there.

He further stated Fawad Hassan Fawad pressurised the PLDC CEO to cancel the contract awarded to M/S Latif and Sons in the last days of the Punjab government (March 2013) and award the same to M/S ConPro, the complainant firm.