CM Punjab to appear before NAB today

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar will appear in the office of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) today in the liquor license case.

During the last hearing, the NAB ordered Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar to submit his reply by 18th August i.e. today. The issuance of liquor license falls under the domain of the DG Excise; however, Usman Buzdar allegedly used his influence to favor a hotel in Lahore.

The private hotel did not obtain a 4-5 star rating license from the Punjab Tourist Department under the Pakistan Hotels Act 1976. A policy was issued by the CM’s office in 2009 regarding the licensing of 4 and 5-star hotels, which was violated, sources added.

In April 2019, NAB had started a probe into Buzdar’s alleged corruption after two complaints were filed with the corruption watchdog against him. CM Buzdar was accused of getting a liquor-sale permit issued to a private hotel in the provincial capital.

Read more: NAB to summon CM Punjab today in liquor license case

The chief minister has also been accused of getting a helicopter for his official use insured for Rs. 70 million, instead of Rs30 million, according to sources. Buzdar had instructed to pay the insurance amount through a supplementary grant.

The NAB had started proceedings for verification of the corruption complaints, for which the anti-graft body’s Lahore bureau issued the directives.