Corruption: NAB returns Rs89.8m to K-P government

PESHAWAR:

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has returned Rs89.8 million to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa finance department. The money was recovered from 18 people, including government officials

in 12 cases.

NAB Director General Shahzad Saleem handed over the cheque to Additional Finance Secretary Razaullah in a ceremony held at NAB office in Hayatabad on Wednesday.

While speaking on the occasion, Saleem said in November and December 2015 NAB K-P returned Rs210 million recovered from corrupt officials.

He said there was a misperception among the general public about how the plea bargain works – in some cases the accused were also convicted.

The NAB DG added those who entered into a plea bargain with NAB were disqualified for 10 years from any government job, in addition to losing their existing job.

He said the plea bargain itself was also a form of punishment.

Meanwhile, some of the accused who were arrested by NAB and returned money were identified as former MNA Arbab Saadullah, Naveed Qadir, Salahuddin, XEN Ashraf Khan, subengineer Tariq Hussain and others.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th,  2016.