NAB to investigate former Balochistan minister for corruption

Bureau’s EBM to file one reference, four investigations, five inquiries

The top anti-corruption watchdog in the country on Wednesday decided to launch an investigation against a former provincial minister of Balochistan for acquiring assets beyond his known sources of income.

The decision was taken during an executive board meeting (EBM)of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday.

Chaired by the NAB chief Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, the EBM decided to file a corruption reference against Riaz Qadeer Butt, the chief executive officer of Mecca Sugar Mills (Pvt) Ltd and others. They are accused of deliberately undersupplying sugar to the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) and Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan while misappropriating money taken as advance.

The EBM also authorised four Investigations.

The first investigation was against Amin Umrani, former minister for excise and taxation in the Balochistan government, and others. The suspects are accused of accruing assets beyond known sources of income, causing a loss of Rs88.77 million to the national exchequer.  The second investigation was authorised against Dr Shaukat Ali Bangash and others for cheating overseas Pakistanis out of Rs560 million.

The third investigation was approved against Muhammad Tariq Ali, owner of Data Lubricants and others for willful loan default of Rs52.94 million. The case was referred to the State Bank Pakistan.

The fourth investigation was authorised against officers of the PEPCO, PESCO and the owners of Al-Moiz sugar Mills in Dera Ismail Khan and others for the alleged for misuse of authority and the illegal sale and purchase of electricity.

Further, five inquiries were also approved.

The first was against former IG of Sindh Police Ghulam Shabbir Sheikh for accumulating assets beyond known sources of income and causing a loss of Rs500 million to the national exchequer.

A second inquiry was authorised against officers of Haripur University for alleged embezzlement of funds through illegal appointments.

The third inquiry was authorised against Ghulam Qadir Dharejo, Jam Saifullah Dharejo, Zahid Abbassi, the deputy commissioner of Ghotki and others for misuse of authority by executing a fake lease of a District Council plot measuring 40 Kanals worth Rs563 million.

The fourth inquiry was authorised against officers of Pak Kor Bio Organic Company, Multan and Apna Micro Finance Bank (Sahiwal branch) and others for criminal breach of trust causing a loss of Rs18.18 million.

The fifth inquiry was authorised against Nasir Mehmood Abbassi for a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) referred by State Bank.

The EBM re-authorised an inquiry against officers of the Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan for alleged embezzlement, misappropriation of university funds allocated for construction projects and misuse of authority causing a loss of Rs4 billion.

The EBM also approved plea bargain requests worth Rs5.623 million against officials of Pak PWD, Ismail Construction Company and others.

NAB also decided to close three inquiries including one against the owner of Al-Madina Garden Housing Society in Pattoki, Kasur. The second inquiry closed was against Karachi Unversity Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Qaisar. The third inquiry closed was against Silver Line Spinning Mills (Pvt)Ltd.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2017.