LAHORE: A team of Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment on Tuesday arrested PML-N MNA Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf on charges of “state land grabbing.”

PML-N MNA from NA-161 Sahiwal, Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf is accused of occupying 157 acres of government land. The Punjab Anti-Corruption Department said the PML-N lawmaker occupied the land through fake documents with the help of Muhammad Saleem Patwari, claimed a spokesman for the ACE.

The lawmaker has been arrested after an inquiry found him to have committed the crime and a case has also been registered against him, the spokesperson said.

Last month, Punjab Anti-corruption Establishment (ACE) team arrested Osama Abdul Karim, son of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz senator over land grabbing charges.

As per details, the Punjab ACE team in an action in Dera Ghazi Khan arrested Osama Abdul Karim. The son of PML-N’s senator is accused of building a shopping plaza by occupying land of the mosque. The Punjab ACE authorities said the arrest was made after the registration of the case. Challan of the case will be presented before the court after an investigation from Osama Abdul Karim, they said.\

According to a spokesman, Ashraf, who was elected an MNA from NA-161, Sahiwal, had been arrested after allegations against him were proved. He was accused of grabbing more than 157 acre state land and committing fraud.

The spokesman added that the MNA had occupied the state land after showing fictitious allottee Sharif Ahmad Hashmi.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday while reacting to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Muhammad Ashraf’s arrest, said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was still continuing its tradition of political victimization.

He said Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab was used as a tool for political victimization upon PTI chief Imran Khan’s directions.