NAB arrests PWD contractor

LAHORE:  

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore arrested Public Works Department’s (PWD) official contractor named Muhammad Bashir from Sheikhupura for causing a loss of millions of rupees to the government’s kitty.

The accused in connivance with PWD officials managed to embezzle millions of rupees by submitting bogus bills/payments fraudulently of the 19 development projects regarding construction of roads and drainage in Sheikhupura, while the projects had already been executed by the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA).



All bills were allegedly approved and paid out, whereas the ill-gotten amount was distributed among all accused officials and the contractor. NAB Lahore received a complaint against Bashir and verifications were launched to investigate the matter.

Moreover, during the course of inquiry, it was revealed that all the bills regarding 19 developments projects were bogus. Most of the accused didn’t join inquiry proceedings with NAB even after repetitive notices sent to them.

Subsequently, NAB Lahore arrested 8 PWD officials on June 5, 2017 and they are being interrogated, whereas Bashir was found practically involved in the graft. The contractor would be produced before Accountability Court tomorrow for his physical remand.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2017.