'Raja Rental' reloaded: NAB to file reference against ex-PM in power case

“The investigators have collected enough evidence against the accused, but cases had to be signed by the...

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday gave the official go-ahead for filing of references against former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in the infamous rental power projects case, Express News reported.

NAB had the references ready for a long time, but needed a chairman to stamp the approval before they were filed.

“The investigators have collected enough evidence against the accused, but the cases have to be signed by the chairman too,” an investigator had said.

Now that the bureau has finally been granted its chairman in the form of Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, it can finally resume its normal functioning.

NAB has already filed a reference against Ashraf in Naudero II Rental Power Plant (RPP) case. The bureau has completed investigations into Sahowal Sialkot, Piranghaib Multan and Karkey I cases, where the ex-PM is among the accused. Former finance minister Shaukat Tareen is also a co-accused in the cases.

Investigations into six more RPP cases against the former premier are also under way.

“The NAB investigators send cases for references only after they are certain that the evidence collected will have 70% chances of getting the accused convicted by the court,” a NAB officer told The Express Tribune.

In almost all RPP cases, Ashraf was accused of “misusing authority” as minister for water and power and drawing financial benefits out of the contracts illegally awarded to multiple companies.

In the RPP contract awarded to Karkey Karadeniz Elektrik Uretim, the Turkish company, Ashraf and his associates in the alleged crime caused $128.2 million losses to the public exchequer.