Shehbaz Sharif’s Saaf Pani Project gets clean chit from accountability court 

Lahore: The accountability court in Lahore on Saturday granted clean chit to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif in Saaf Pani Project case.  

According to details, the Saaf Pani project of former Punjab Chief Minister has been declared ‘clean and transparent’ by the court. 

Muhammad Sajid Ali—the accountability Court Judge— issued the written judgment, acquitting 16 accused including PML-N leader Raja Qamar-ul-Islam in Saaf Pani Case. 

In a 23-page written judgment, the judge remarked that National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was unable to prove any violation or illegality in the project. 

From assessment survey to the completion of the project, Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and regulations were fully implemented, said the judge. 

The verdict said that the changes in the project were made on the recommendations and approval of concerned committees to further improve—aiming to bring maximum benefit to the people. 

The judge Muhammad Sajid Ali said, all the changes made to the project were aimed at improvement in the project and for the benefit of the public.  

Concerned committees also had ensured to avoid any cost escalation, he added.

Accountability Court, however, remarked that all rules and laws were followed in executing the project right from the survey to the project’s completion. 

Raja Qamarul Islam—former MPA— was the prime suspect in the reference. Among 20 suspects, two were foreigners and had not joined the trial.

Moreover, another person who was the former chief design engineer at Associated Consultant Engineers, succumbed to COVID-19 during the course of the trial.

During the last hearing on January 31, the judge had acquitted Islam and 15 others of the remaining 17 suspects. 

The decision mentioned, “The former CEO Wasim Ajmal never misused his powers and did not grant any unnecessary benefit to the co-accused”.  

NAB in its verdicts said that one floor of the plaza—owned by Shahbaz Sharif’s daughter Rabia Imran and her husband Ali Imran— was rented out to the project through transparent auction. 

As per verdict, the Saaf Pani Company not only took possession but also the new management maintained the contract with some changes.