Israre Saeed – the pardoned witness representing NAB in the Ashiana case – has said that he was forced to issue his statement against PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif.
Saeed admitted to Shehbaz' counsel Amjad Pervez in the witness-stand that he was forced and coerced into becoming a witness against the party's chief.
He claimed that then NAB officers DG Shehzad Saleem, Director Muhammad Rafi, and case officer Aftab Ahmed were behind the forced statement.
Saeed further said that his first statement in the court related to the case was under coercion, and added that then DG Saleem asked him to accuse Shehbaz Sharif [of wrongdoing].
According to him, the officer wanted to use the statement to have the bail granted to Shehbaz canceled.
"They used to threaten me of reopening my cases and launching fresh inquiries into the allegations," he maintained.
He further claimed that Director Rafi showed him his arrest warrant and asked him to sign a pre-written statement.
"On the second remand, then Chairman NAB Javed Iqbal and DG Saleem came to my cell and told me to sign the document, saying there will be more trouble for me if I didn't," Saeed told the court.
He further said that he was forced to sign a document which wasn't true, and told to sign blank papers.
According to the former NAB witness, the Ashiana scheme was a transparent project and Shehbaz and others accused in the case were not involved in any fraud with the people.
In September last year, an accountability court allowed permanent exemption from personal appearance to the premier in a reference of the housing scheme.
The premier had asked for a permanent exemption from appearance in the NAB references citing official responsibilities.
The Bureau had alleged that Shehbaz Sharif and others accused caused a huge loss to the exchequer by awarding the contract of the scheme to a company without bidding.
Saeed admitted to Shehbaz' counsel Amjad Pervez in the witness-stand that he was forced and coerced into becoming a witness against the party's chief.
He claimed that then NAB officers DG Shehzad Saleem, Director Muhammad Rafi, and case officer Aftab Ahmed were behind the forced statement.
Saeed further said that his first statement in the court related to the case was under coercion, and added that then DG Saleem asked him to accuse Shehbaz Sharif [of wrongdoing].
According to him, the officer wanted to use the statement to have the bail granted to Shehbaz canceled.
"They used to threaten me of reopening my cases and launching fresh inquiries into the allegations," he maintained.
He further claimed that Director Rafi showed him his arrest warrant and asked him to sign a pre-written statement.
"On the second remand, then Chairman NAB Javed Iqbal and DG Saleem came to my cell and told me to sign the document, saying there will be more trouble for me if I didn't," Saeed told the court.
He further said that he was forced to sign a document which wasn't true, and told to sign blank papers.
According to the former NAB witness, the Ashiana scheme was a transparent project and Shehbaz and others accused in the case were not involved in any fraud with the people.
In September last year, an accountability court allowed permanent exemption from personal appearance to the premier in a reference of the housing scheme.
The premier had asked for a permanent exemption from appearance in the NAB references citing official responsibilities.
The Bureau had alleged that Shehbaz Sharif and others accused caused a huge loss to the exchequer by awarding the contract of the scheme to a company without bidding.