Jang Group CEO Shakilur Rahman arrested by NAB
Statesman Report
LAHORE: Editor-in-chief of 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.
Shakil 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 Shakil in 1986.
NAB will produce Shakil in front of an accountability court today for his physical remand.
According to the notice issued on February 28, Shakil had been called to appear before NAB on March 5 to record his statement regarding the land allotted to him in 1986 in Block H, Johar Town Phase 2 “by then chief minister Punjab Mian Nawaz Sharif in violation of the relevant laws and rules”.
According to an official statement issued by the Jang Group, the property “was bought from a private party 34 years ago and all evidence of this was given to NAB”.
The statement maintained that Thursday’s appearance was for the verification of the complaint, yet Shakil was arrested. It also accused the anti-graft watchdog of harbouring a vendetta against the publication.
“During the past 18 months, NAB has sent our reporters, producers, and editors […] over a dozen notices threatening to shut down our channels […] due to our reporting, and programmes about the anti-corrupton watchdog.”
“NAB has also, through several means, tried to persuade us to go slow, to stop stories and to do others in its favor at the expense of the full truth.