Rental power projects: NAB authorises investigation of Ashraf, former power secretary

ISLAMABAD:

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday authorised an investigation against former prime minister Raja Parvez Ashraf and former water and power secretary Shahid Rafi, among others.

They have been accused of corruption and misuse of authority in the award of a 220 MW rental power project (RPP) contract to Reshma Power Generation Limited, causing a loss of Rs892.609 million to national exchequer.

The meeting, chaired by NAB chief Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, also authorised an investigation against Young Gen Power Limited, Ashraf, Rafi, PEPCO MD Fazal Ahmad Khan, NPGCL former CEO Rafiq Butt, former finance director Ejaz Babar, and others. They were alleged for awarding 150 MW RPP contract to Young Gen Power Limited, thus causing loss of Rs435.7 million to national exchequer

Ashraf was water and power minister when the RPP deals were given the go ahead.

Another investigation was authorised against Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan officials including vice chancellor Prof Sher Ali Khan, former registrar Dr Muhammad Amin, former planning and development director Pir Abdul Jabbar, and a former examination controller. In this case, the accused allegedly misused authority to appoint 700 teaching and non-teaching employees without the completion of codal formalities.

The meeting also authorised investigations against officials from the Board of Revenue, Land Utilisation Department Sindh, CDGK, and others. In this case, the accused persons allegedly forged the allotment of a six-acre amenity plot in Deh Dih Na Class 24 by tampering of documents.

They were also accused of illegally rezoning the land from industrial to industrial-and-residential without approval from the Sindh chief minister,  causing a loss of Rs200 million to the national exchequer.

The meeting also decided to authorise three inquiries. The first one is against Punjab Minister for Education, Sports and Youth Affairs Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan and others. They are accused of corrupt practices and misuse of authority in the holding of a sports festival.

The second inquiry was authorised against officers of the Capital Development Authority and others. In this case, the civic agency allegedly sold commercial plots without open auction and completion of codal formalities.

The third inquiry was authorised against National Highway Authority officers regarding the Okara Bypass Project. They were accused of making an unjustified payment on account of seed money of Rs200 million, over payment of Rs123.9 million on account of defective design, excess payment for inbuilt items of Rs33.5 million and extra expenditure of Rs53.1 million due to deletion of a toll plaza from the approved contract.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2015.