Corruption charges: Ex-MNA, two Sindh vice-chancellors to face NAB inquiries

NAB executive board authorises six inquiries

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has authorised investigation into six cases of corruption and misuse of authority.

NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry chaired the Executive Board Meeting (EBM) on Tuesday, which approved the inquiries.

EBM decided to authorise two investigations. First investigation was authorised against former MNA Raheela Kausar and former EOBI/FIA assistant director Awais Behram for possessing assets beyond known sources of income.

Second investigation was authorised against some officials of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), who are accused of abusing their discretionary powers in processing and sanctioning credit limits, wilfully avoiding to conduct proper valuation of securities offered by borrowers, and causing losses of $185million to the national exchequer while they were posted at four branches of NBP in Bangladesh.

The EBM also decided to re-authorise investigation against former Ministry of Climate Change secretary Mehmood Alam, Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue Karachi Member Accountant Sikander Aslam, Ssangyong Korea and Usmani Associates director, and officials of Board of Investment and Federal Board of Revenue. The suspects are alleged to have misused their authority and availing exemptions under SRO 575 on custom duty in excess of five percent, on whole of sales tax and illegal refund of sales tax and thus causing losses of Rs410.62 million to the national exchequer.

The NAB board also authorised an inquiry against the management of NTDC and TIBL and others for causing losses of Rs120 million to the national exchequer.

The executive board also okayed a complaint verification Vice-Chancellor Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University Lyari (BBSUL) Akhtar Baloch and others for allegedly appointing 90 employees in grades 16 to 20 in violation of rules and regulations.

Another complaint verification was authorised Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Vice-Chancellor Dr Parveen Shah and others for possessing assets beyond known sources of income, misusing authority and embezzlement of university funds. They allegedly caused a loss of Rs200 million to the national exchequer.

The bureau has decided to close an inquiry against officials of expanded programme of immunisation (EPI) of National Institute of Health due to lack of incriminating evidence.

The EBM also gave approval for acceptance of repayment/arrangements/NOC to the Bank of Punjab (BoP) for settlement in cases against Amson Vaccines amd Pharma, and DCD Pakistan.

The meeting resolved to pursue all cases fairly, transparently and expeditiously.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2016.