Former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. PHOTO: PID
ISLAMABAD:
The Accountability Court on Tuesday adjourned a hearing into the Rental Power Project (RPP) case until February 26, following the statement of one witness.
Judge Muhammad Bashir presided over the hearing into the multi-billion rupee scam in which four witnesses have appeared before the court so far. However, only one, Ramzan Joya, technical director of the Nandipur Hydel Power Project recorded his statement. Former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf was also present in court on the day, along with attorney Farooq H. Naek.
On January 17, the court indicted Ashraf and seven others over their alleged involvement in this scam. Businessmen Iqbal Z. Ahmed and MN Baig were cleared as the principal beneficiaries in the case.
Earlier, the National Accountability Bureau filed a 263-page reference against Ashraf and nine others, saying the RPP contract was awarded on March 4, 2010 in violation of rules. Ashraf, federal minister in charge at the time, approved the project which NAB deemed to be ‘unfeasible and unsolicited’.
Others named in the reference include former finance minister Shaukat Tareen and former water and power secretary Shahid Rafi.
Ashraf received kickbacks from nine rental power firms and awarded contracts to set up plants. The reference charges Ashraf with misusing authority after obtaining approval from in violation of PPRA rules.
The total liability of the project, according to the ministry of water and power, is $47.76 million. The balance liability after ‘voluntary return’ by the accused stands at $106,630. Talking to reporters after the hearing, Ashraf claimed the case is politically motivated and the prosecution will not prove any solid evidence against him.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 5th, 2014.
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