The promissory witness of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Ashiana scandal against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has deviated from his statement.
Chief Engineer of Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Israr Saeed was a sworn witness of NAB against Shehbaz Sharif in Ashiana scandal.
During the cross-examination of Shehbaz Sharif’s lawyer Amjad Parvez in the accountability court, Israr Saeed deviated from his statement, he admitted that the first statement was given in the court due to pressure and coercion.
Israr Saeed said that Director General (DG) NAB Lahore Shahzad Saleem, Director NAB Muhammad Rafi and Case Officer Aftab Ahmed pressured me to testify falsely.
In front of the court, the sworn witness admitted that DG NAB Lahore asked me to accuse Shahbaz Sharif, he wanted to use my statement to cancel the bail of Shahbaz Sharif.
Asrar Saeed told the court that I used to be threatened to open closed inquiries and create new cases.
The promissory witness of NAB told the accountability court that NAB director Muhammad Rafi offered to sign the prepared statement after showing the arrest warrant.
Asrar Saeed further said that on my refusal, NAB arrested me and took me on physical remand for 10 days, I was made to wait for half an hour to go to the washroom.
The court was told that CCTV cameras were installed in the washroom, I was given a mat to sleep on while lights were kept on all night.
The promissory witness of NAB revealed that on the second remand, Chairman NAB Javed Iqbal and DG Shahzad Saleem came to my cell, both of them said that there is a lot of pressure on them, sign or else my problems will increase.
Asrar Saeed said, “I was threatened with 90-day remand and the opening of a disproportionate assets case, and I was pressured to sign a statement which was not true.”
The accused told the court that signatures on simple documents were also taken from me. NAB did not oppose my approval of bail from the Lahore High Court after becoming a witness.
