ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi has summoned former federal minister Fawad Chaudhary to appear before the joint investigation team regarding his alleged involvement in the Jhelum-Pind Dadan Khan dual carriageway project.
The former PTI leader has been directed to appear at the NAB Rawalpindi office at 10 am on November 13 (Monday). The summons state that the inquiry has uncovered Fawad Chaudhry’s purported exertion of undue political influence in the planning of the dual carriageway project during his tenure as a federal minister.
Additionally, the summons allege that he unlawfully gained advantages from the contractor and their associates. The NAB notice further states, “Furthermore, you, along with other members of your family, acquired land along the dual carriageway project. During the land acquisition for this project, a significant loss was incurred by the national exchequer.”
Earlier on Wednesday, a local district and sessions court remanded the former federal minister to jail for 14 days in a case registered against him for allegedly taking a bribe from a citizen. He was arrested in Islamabad and subsequently placed in police custody.
Fawad was among several PTI leaders who parted ways with the Imran-led PTI in the aftermath of the May 9 unrest. While Fawad initially declared he was “taking a break from politics,” his presence at the launch event of the Jahangir Khan Tareen-led Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) in June raised questions about his actual political stance.
Despite being seen at the IPP’s inauguration, Fawad had not confirmed his affiliation with the party, a gesture that earned the support of some PTI leaders in the aftermath of the May 9 riots.