Executive Board Meeting: NAB approves reference against ex-director general Pakistan Post

Also filing reference into acquisition of five helicopters

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday decided to file two corruption references – one against Zia Pervaiz Hussain and others in a helicopter purchase case, and another against former Pakistan Post DG Ikramul Haq.

It also authorised three investigations.

An Executive Board Meeting (EBM) held under the chairmanship of NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry decided to file a reference against Hussain and others in a case alleging that they obtained the award of a contract for five helicopters from the Cabinet Division through a bogus firm named Cuxhaven of Denmark and misappropriated a sum of $2.168 million (Rs227 million).

The reference against Haq alleges that he was involved in corruption and fraud in a housing scheme on Kuri Road, Islamabad, and violation of PPRA rules in the award of a contract to Telconet, which caused a loss of Rs100 million to the national exchequer.

The first investigation authorised by the EBM was against former Karachi Development Authority (KDA) EDO Iftikhar Qaimkhani and others. They are accused of misusing authority and illegal conversion and amalgamation of streets and walkways in Sea Shell Stalls plots, which caused losses of Rs2 billion to the national exchequer.

The second investigation was authorised against former Competition Commission of Pakistan-acting chairman Dr Joseph Wilson and others. They are suspected of corruption and misuse of authority which caused losses of Rs10.22 million to the national exchequer.

The third investigation authorised was against officials of Pepco, Qesco and others for making illegal appointments in different categories from BS-1 to BS-16 in the years 2008 to 2010.

The EBM also authorised two inquiries. The first was against Shah Abdul Latif University Vice Chancellor Parveen Naeem Shah and others for accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income and misuse of authority, which caused losses of Rs100 million to the national exchequer.

The second inquiry authorised was against Silver Line Spinning Mills, Lodhran for wilful default on a Rs417. 698 million loan from UBL.

The EBM decided to close two inquiries – one against of Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) officials regarding the Metro Bus Project, and another against Passco officers.

The EBM also decided to reject the voluntary return request of officials from the Sindh Police, the Sindh AG Office, and others in a case regarding allegations of embezzlement from the Sindh Police budget.

At the end, NAB Chairman Chaudhry said the bureau is committed to eradicating corruption through a zero tolerance policy. He directed all NAB officials to put their best efforts into complaint verification, inquiries, and investigations.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9^th, 2016.