Rental Power Projects case: With his name on ECL, Raja to face NAB investigators

Shaukat Tarin says he approved payment after PM’s orders.


Umer Nangiana May 14, 2013
Raja Pervez Ashraf. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD:


Former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has been summoned for questioning by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Rental Power Projects (RPP) corruption case on Tuesday.


On the request of NAB, the names of all the suspects in the RPP case have been put on the Exit Control List (ECL). Ashraf, who had not been previously barred from leaving the country due to his status as prime minister, has now been put on the list, said an official from NAB.

Immigration officials at all ports of exit from the country have been directed to stop Ashraf and the co-accused from leaving the country.

“Investigations in RPPs were already under way as per directions of the Supreme Court. The Naudero-II project is the first case where the former prime minister has been summoned, the rest of the cases will follow,” revealed a NAB officer.

The bureau has been given one month by the SC to complete investigations and submit report by May 27 this year. Despite earlier rumours that the accountability bureau had stopped investigations in the RPP scandal, NAB sources said investigations against 30 accused in 12 RPP cases were still under way.

NAB Chairman Admiral (retd) Fasih Bukhari earlier informed the media that NAB investigators were busy collecting evidence against the accused in 12 RPP cases. Last month, the chairman had informed journalists that references against the accused would be filed after concrete evidence was found.

In a related development, a NAB team questioned former finance minister Shaukat Tarin, one of the accused in the RPP scandal, who maintained that he cleared the payment for Naudero-II RPP only after approval from the prime minister and the then minister for water and power Raja Pervez Ashraf.

Tarin said he had refused to approve the 50MW power project in Naudero without the approval of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the sponsor.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2013.

COMMENTS (7)

Asad | 10 years ago | Reply

What about the rest of the culprits? Will the new government take action against them?

rino | 10 years ago | Reply

Kamran Faisal's family are also awaiting justice.. pl wake up CJ & FB.

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