Award of contract: NAB orders probe against CDA officials

Also initiates separate probe into SSGL contract

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is committed to eradicate corruption through a holistic approach of awareness, prevention and enforcement and by adopting zero-tolerance policy against corruption.

This was said by NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry on Wednesday at an executive board meeting.

The board decided to authorise investigation against National Investment Trust ex-chairman and MD Tariq Iqbal Khan, ex-director Asif Jameel and others.

The accused were alleged for illegal sale of Pakistan Engineering Company shares without obtaining necessary approval from the government.

It also authorised inquiry against University of Karachi Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Qaiser for alleged misappropriation of public funds through illegal payments, appointments and use of provident funds, causing a loss of Rs566 million to national exchequer.

The executive board also re-authorised two inquiries.

First inquiry was against officers of Capital Development Authority, management of Free Balance and ECG companies in Integrated Resources Management Information System. In this case, the accused were accused of prequalification of a firm on the basis of defective evaluation, award of work to non-qualified firm, not obtaining performance guarantee from the contractor and premature payment to the vendor without completion of project module.

This caused a loss of Rs38.99 million to the national exchequer.

Second inquiry was authorised against SSGCL former managing director Azeem Iqbal Siddiqui and others regarding purchase of Progas assets on exorbitant prices.

In this case, the accused were alleged for misuse of authority, purchase of Progas assets in capacity of single bidder for Rs2.25 million, causing a loss of Rs800 million to the national exchequer.

The meeting decided to close inquiry against Liquidator National Construction Company managing director Nadir Shah due to lack of incriminating evidence.

In a case against former Punjab minister Ch Zaheeruddin, former town nazim Akhtar Ali and others, the board decided to refer it back to Anti-Corruption Establishment as it did not fulfil the threshold laid in standard operating procedures. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2016.