The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday arrested former defence minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), in a corruption case.
According to the NAB, Khawaja Asif has been arrested in the Iqama case. He was arrested in Islamabad by a team of NAB Islamabad on the request of NAB Lahore. He is said to be involved in financial irregularities of Rs220 million. He is also facing an assets beyond means case.
Khawaja Asif, a member of the National Assembly from Sialkot, has also served as foreign and energy minister of Pakistan.
Sources said that Khawaja Asif had appeared before a three-member team of the NAB twice in the past, but he could not provide any documentary evidence as required by the NAB.
A spokesperson for the PML-N confirmed Khawaja Asif’s arrest and said he would be produced in an accountability court on Wednesday. He was arrested outside the residence of PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal in the federal capital.
نیب نے خواجہ آصف صاحب کو اسلام آباد سے گرفتار کرلیا۔@KhawajaMAsif
— PML(N) Media (@PmlnMedia) December 29, 2020
The NAB also confirmed Khawaja Asif’s arrest later on Tuesday and said he was arrested after approval of the chairman of the corruption watchdog.