National Accountability Bureau Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry chairing the Executive Board meeting at bureau headquarters. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The meeting decided to file three corruption references. The first one was against former Balochistan food minister Asfand Yar Kakar, former secretary Ali Bakhsh Baloch and others. The accused were alleged for embezzlement amounting Rs1525 million from the Provincial Reserve Centre Sariab, Quetta.
Second corruption reference was decided to be filed against Sheikh Muhammad Afzal, chief executive/director of Harris Steel Industry, Lahore and others. In this case, the accused were alleged for obtaining illegal pecuniary benefits through corrupt, dishonest and illegal means and thereby caused corresponding loss to the NIB Bank.
The meeting also decided to file reference against former Bahauddin Zakariya University vice-chancellor Prof Syed Khawaja Alqama, former registrar Malik Munir Hussain and others. In this case, the alleged in connivance with each other illegally established university sub-campus in Lahore by misusing their authority and illegally obtained benefits to the tune of Rs960 million.
The board decided to authorise complaint verification against MNA Azhar Qayyum Nahra, former MNA Mudassir Qayyum Nahra and others. The accused were alleged for corruption, corrupt practices and huge assets beyond known sources of income.
The EB also authorised two inquiries. First inquiry was against former MPA Javed Ahmed Siddiqui and others. In this case, the accused person was alleged for accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income.
Second inquiry was authorised against officials of food ministry. The accused were alleged for corruption and corrupt practices, which caused a loss of millions of rupees to national exchequer.
The board decided to authorise investigation against government functionaries and GE Energy Sharaqpur. In this case, they were alleged for corruption and misusing their authority in award of RPPs contract to the firm.
The EB decided to close two inquiries due to lack of incriminating evidence. One was against railways ministry officials and others regarding procurement of 69 locomotives, and another against ministry officials and others regarding procurement of 1300 wagons.
The meeting decided to approve Voluntary Return request, of Rs404.8 million by Trust Investment Bank Limited (TIBL) Chairman Asif Kamal, in a case against government functionaries and others regarding corruption and misuse of authority by placement of Rs500 million with TIBL by Privatization Commission.
NAB chairman reiterated that the bureau was committed to eradicate corruption and corrupt practices by adopting holistic and proactive approach through enforcement besides awareness and prevention strategy across the country. He directed all officers of the bureau to put in their best efforts in conduct of complaint verification, inquiries and investigations against corrupts in accordance with laid down standard operating procedures, transparently and on merit.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2016.
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