NAB appeal against bail: Counsels for Shahbaz, Fawad seek time to file reply, addl documents

The lawyers of former chief minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and former secretary (Implementation) to the ex-CM, Fawad Hassan Fawad on Thursday sought time to file reply and additional documents in Ashiana Iqbal Housing project.
A three-judge bench headed by Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed heard the NAB appeal against the Lahore High Court order to grant bail to Shahbaz and Fawad in Ashiana Housing scheme.
Ashtar Ausaf appeared on behalf of the ex-CM while Azam Nazir Tarar represented Fawad and sought time to file reply and additional documents, including power of attorney.
Justice Azmat said they have already issued notice to both of them. He asked Special Prosecutor General NAB Naeem Bukhari that he would have to work hard for cancellation of the bails; as there can't be two standards regarding bail in this case; one who are on bail and others who were denied bail.
The judge directed both the defence and the prosecution sides to come prepared on the next date of hearing and adjourned the matter until May 15. Naeem Bukhari said that the division bench of Lahore High Court did not apply its mind and hurriedly came to conclusion and granted the bails. He said the High Court did not consider the parameters, laid down by the apex court for grant of bail. He said that as per the SC judgement, the bail could be granted in extreme hardship cases. He said the NAB had gathered sufficient material against the accused. However, the high court did not appreciate it and turned down the NAB's request against bails.
Bukhari argued that nothing could have happened without the involvement of the chief minister. He said that Shahbaz was architect of the housing project. He claimed that there was sufficient material available on record for the cancellation of their bails.
He questioned how Fawad could be let of the hook. He informed that Ahad Cheema and Fawad are in jail in other cases, while two of the accused have become approvers. Some of the accused have got pre-arrest or post-arrest bails.
Last month the NAB had filed the appeal under Article 185 of the Constitution against the Lahore High Court (LHC) order dated 14-02-2019 in Ashiana Iqbal and Ramzan Sugar Mills cases in the apex court.