NTS acting chief among six officials summoned in Rs2bn embezzlement case
NAB has alleged the testing body of hiding five bank accounts and producing fake affidavits
NTS is currently reeling under simultaneous probes by FIA, FBR and NAB. PHOTO: FILE
A customs court in Rawalpindi has summoned six officials of the National Testing Service (NTS) including its acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sherzada Khan in a case pertaining to money-laundering and tax evasion of over two billion rupees.
The decision was made during the hearing of a reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday, Express News reported.
The anti-graft watchdog presented challan of the case alleging the testing body of hiding five bank accounts and producing fake affidavits. It said that NTS officials indulged in money-laundering and tax evasion intentionally, hence be awarded punishment in accordance with the law.
After hearing NAB prosecutor’s arguments, the court summoned Dr Mohammad Junaid, Dr Haroon Rashid, Dr Izhar Hussain, Mohammad Suhail Ghani and Dr Shahid Khan besides the NTS chief on the next hearing scheduled for November 21.
NTS left reeling under multiple investigations
The NTS is currently reeling under simultaneous probes by the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and NAB.
Besides the ongoing investigation into undisclosed foreign currency accounts and non-payment of taxes against NTS officials, the FBR has also found discrepancies in the financial affairs of the testing body.
It raided NTS headquarters in Islamabad on October 30 and took away main servers and personal computers of NTS’ Chief Operating Officer (COO) and acting CEO Sherzada Khan.
Meanwhile, the FIA’s cyber-crime unit was also probing the issue of a leaked entry test paper for admission in medical colleges of Sindh.
The Sindh government had annulled the results of an entry test and a probe was launched after a questionnaire of the pre-admission test was leaked on October 21, a day before the exams, allegedly in connivance with the NTS staff to mint money.
The decision was made during the hearing of a reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday, Express News reported.
The anti-graft watchdog presented challan of the case alleging the testing body of hiding five bank accounts and producing fake affidavits. It said that NTS officials indulged in money-laundering and tax evasion intentionally, hence be awarded punishment in accordance with the law.
After hearing NAB prosecutor’s arguments, the court summoned Dr Mohammad Junaid, Dr Haroon Rashid, Dr Izhar Hussain, Mohammad Suhail Ghani and Dr Shahid Khan besides the NTS chief on the next hearing scheduled for November 21.
NTS left reeling under multiple investigations
The NTS is currently reeling under simultaneous probes by the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and NAB.
Besides the ongoing investigation into undisclosed foreign currency accounts and non-payment of taxes against NTS officials, the FBR has also found discrepancies in the financial affairs of the testing body.
It raided NTS headquarters in Islamabad on October 30 and took away main servers and personal computers of NTS’ Chief Operating Officer (COO) and acting CEO Sherzada Khan.
Meanwhile, the FIA’s cyber-crime unit was also probing the issue of a leaked entry test paper for admission in medical colleges of Sindh.
The Sindh government had annulled the results of an entry test and a probe was launched after a questionnaire of the pre-admission test was leaked on October 21, a day before the exams, allegedly in connivance with the NTS staff to mint money.