Known for his competence during PML-N’s last govt in Punjab, Ahad Cheema arrested by NAB in PTI govt in Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Scheme scam and remained under NAB custody for three years and released without conviction

ISLAMABAD   -  Ahad Cheema, a bureaucrat who spent three years of the PTI government under NAB custody before being released without a conviction, appeared along with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif the other day during a visit to the Metro Bus Project in Islamabad.

Ahad Cheema, a BS-20 officer of Pakistan Administrative Service, may get an important placement in days to come, officials say. It would be a remarkable turnaround of fate for the officer, who was a key member of Shehbaz Sharif’s provincial government and was known for his brilliance and ability to get the job done, but became a symbol of political victimisation and vendetta.

Accountability is a cornerstone of the governance but when it turns out to be a tool of ‘political victimization’ then it not only ruins brilliant, hard-working, and doer career officers like Mr. Cheema but also demoralizes others as well.

Cheema was the first high-profile arrest in Punjab by NAB before the general elections of 2018. He was the head of the Lahore Development Authority during the last PML-N government. He was appointed as DG LDA in March 2012 before that he was working as Deputy Commissioner in Lahore.

The NAB had arrested him on Feb 21, 2018 when he appeared before its investigation team in an inquiry into Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Scheme scam. Later, it also initiated inquiries about the LDA-City scam and assets beyond means against him.

But, in a clear sign of political victimization, a total of 66 adjournments were made on different grounds when Cheema was allowed bail in reference of illegal assets in March 2021. Only eight adjournments were sought by the defence and 24 by the prosecution.

Similarly, on 12 occasions, the case was adjourned on account of lawyers’ strikes or bar elections while 16 adjournments were given due to the unavailability of the presiding judge of the trial court.

The court while granting him bail had observed that an accused could not be left at the mercy of the prosecution to rot in jail for an indefinite period. Not only Mr. Cheema but his wife, a civil servant, Saima Ahad Cheema and other family members were also victimized because of Cheema’s reputation as a close confidante of Shehbaz Sharif.

“Good governance is the result of a neutral and empowered civil service” the retired Federal Secretary and Former President of the Pakistan Administrative Services Association Rabiya Javeri Agha maintained, adding; “When bureaucrats face unsubstantiated accusations and jail terms, the whole bureaucratic machinery is impacted and government delivery fails.”

She further said that there is a due process of accountability and it must be maintained.