Pending for 15 years: NAB closes investigation against Ishaq Dar

Initiates various references over drug price hikes, embezzlement cases in all provinces

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to close an investigation against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. The investigation was initiated in 2001 during the Musharraf regime and dated back to his term as commerce minister in the 1990s.

The bureau’s executive board meeting  decided to close investigation against Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Finance and Ex-Minister for Commerce which was pending for closure since 2001.



A NAB Executive Board Meeting held under the chairmanship of Qamar Zaman Chaudhry reached the decision.

Other decisions taken during the meeting include the filing of five corruption references.

The first would be against Arshad Farooq Faheem and others for alleged profiteering by illegally increasing the prices of drugs in drug pricing committee meetings. They are accused of causing losses of Rs692.96 million to the national exchequer.

The second reference is against Asfand Yar Kakar, the former Balochistan food minister who allegedly embezzlement from the government’s Provincial Reserve Centre in Pishin, Balochistan to the tune of Rs466.91 million.

The third corruption reference is against former Gujranwala mayor Muhammad Aslam Butt and others.  The accused persons allegedly misused their authority to award a contract to Rathore Enterprises which caused losses of millions of rupees to the national exchequer.



The fourth corruption reference will be filed against Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan Vice Chancellor Dr Ihsan Ali and others. In this case, the accused allegedly misused their authority to illegally appoint 652 officials on contract without advertisements or completing the requirements. This allegedly caused losses of Rs462 million.

The fifth reference is against former Senate Secretariat additional secretary Mussarrat Abbas and others for alleged misuse of authority, criminal breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds in the Senate Secretariat Employees Cooperative Housing Society. Their alleged actions caused losses of millions of rupees to the national exchequer.

The meeting also decided to reauthorise an investigation against officials of MEPCO, Trust Investment Bank Limited (TIBL), Multan, and others. The accused persons allegedly misappropriated funds and obtained pecuniary benefits. This caused a loss of Rs297.29 million to the national exchequer.

The meeting also decided to authorize two inquiries. One is against former Thatta MNA Shafqat Shah Shirazi and former Thatta MPA Ejaz Shah Shirazi, regarding their alleged accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income.



The second inquiry was authorised against Sindh Ushar and Zakat Minister Dost Muhammad Rahimoon and others. The case also centres on the accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income, misappropriation along with misuse of authority and the distribution of wheat in Taluka Chachro and Dhali, Sindh, which in total caused losses of Rs500 million to the national exchequer.

The meeting will also close investigation against former Balochistan excise and taxation minister Abdul Karim Nosherwani which was pending closure since 1999. An investigation against Zeeshan Energy Chief Executive Zahid Anwar and Director Rukhsana Begum was closed due to lack of evidence.

The EBM also decided to close inquiries against Gohar Ejaz and others,  an inquiry against FBR member Israr Rauf and others, and one against Tariq Shafi regarding a bank account due to lack of evidence.

NAB Chairman Chaudhry said that NAB is committed to eradicating corruption by adopting a zero tolerance policy through awareness, prevention and enforcement strategies across the board. He directed the watchdog’s staff to work with dedication and ensure transparency in complaint verifications, inquiries, and investigations in accordance with NAB rules.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2016.