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)
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What about the rest of the culprits? Will the new government take action against them?
Kamran Faisal's family are also awaiting justice.. pl wake up CJ & FB.
@ Hassan: But when would this vicious cycle come to an end...Every time there is a change in Government, the previous Govt. is held responsible and then WE choose the same corrupt people after they come out of jail for the next term...
It is a commendable approach by the present NAB Chief to re-investigate the charges against the former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in the rental power (RPPS) corruption cases and has put his name on Exit Control list ,along with all the persons suspected on similar charges. My point of view is that in spite of the these serious charges of corruption and irregularities, how he was allowed to contest the current General Elections of 2013 which in my opinion is clear violation of Article 62 Of the Constitution. I would therefore suggest that names of those persons should also be put On ECL who unlawfully exercised their power and defended the case of ex-prime minister in allowing him to contest the Elections Inspite of serious charges of corruption against him.
@Eshal: Isn't it a good sign that now they would have to be held accountable for whatever they did. Now is the time for PTI to come forward and strengthen N's hands.
Raja is not the first one accused. Who was responsible for awarding a very high tarrif of Rupees five per electric unit to Hubco when around 1990 the average unit price for household electricity in Karachi was around forty paisa?
A sad state of affairs...NAB was fast asleep before!! People in power become saints during their tenor and this happens right after they lose...
Ermmm...what should we expect for (election day 2018)+3 (just in case this assembly also completes five years) thinks