Loss of millions: NAB to initiate inquiries against ex-ETPB chairman

Also authorises inquiries against Model Educational Institutions Foundation, FUUAST VC

The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was held under the chairmanship of Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, Chairman NAB at NAB Headquarters on Wednesday.

Spearheading its continuous anti-corruption drive the meeting made some important decisions of which one was to authorise investigation against Asif Hashmi, Ex-chairman, Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) & Pakistan Model Educational Institutions Foundation (PMEIF) and Management of ETPB/PMEIF. In both these cases, the suspected persons are alleged to have misused its authority by making over 700 illegal appointments.



The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) decided to authorise four more inquiries.the first being against Dr Zafar Iqbal, former vice chancellor and Management of Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, sub-campus Lahore and others. In this case, the suspects established the sub-campus in violation of rules and regulations and collected a lot of money from students. They cheated students by misusing their authority.

In the second case of embezzlement, an inquiry was authorised against officers and officials of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) and others. In this case, the suspects persons were alleged to have misused of authority and embezzlement causing loss of millions to the national exchequer.

Umair Steel Industries, Lahore faces the third inquiry for loan default to the tune of Rs42.590 million, referred by State Bank of Pakistan.

The fourth inquiry was authorised against Bakht Zada Khan and others. In this case, the State Bank of Pakistan through FMU referred the case on the basis of a suspicious transaction report (STR).

Two further inquiries have been re-authorized by the board meeting one pertaining against Dr Ehsan, vice-chancellor of Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, and others. It is alleged the suspects misappropriated university funds allocated for scholarships and endowment, depriving Rs1.176 billion from the national exchequer.

A huge amount of Rs355.53 million is the amount involved regarding the second inquiry which was re-authorised against officials of Sheladia Associates and others regarding corruption and corrupt practices in the construction of Barang Road in Fata with funding from USAID.

The meeting also decided to close the file on six inquiries. These pertain to inquiry against former federal health minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, an inquiry against Civil Aviation Authority officials, an inquiry against BISP officials and others, an inquiry against ex-Forest secretary Waseem Ahmed Ursani and others, an inquiry against Forest and Revenue department officials, and an inquiry against ex-FBR Administration member Shahid Hussain Jatoi and others.

An investigation against NHA officials was closed due to lack of incriminating evidence.

The EBM also rejected a plea bargain request submitted by Seth Nisar Ahmad.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2017.