Illegally leased: NAB to start probe of CDA officials

Probe launched against former science foundation chief

The apex anti-corruption watchdog has launched a probe against officials of the civic body for the illegal lease of plots.

Moreover, the body has announced that it will be probing a former chief of the national science foundation.

In a statement issued on Monday, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) said that it will start an inquiry against officers of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and others.

The inquiry is in relation to plot # 11, in the Melody Civic Center in Sector G-6, for the alleged illegal lease and sale of a costly commercial plot in the capital.

In another case, NAB said that it will be probing Pakistan Science Foundation’s former chairman Dr Manzoor Hussain Soomro, along with officers of the science and technology ministry.

According to the charges against him, NAB said that Dr Soomro had allegedly been appointed illegally as the chairman of the foundation (a basic pay scale -22 post), the director general of the (BPS-21) Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information and the president of the Economic Coordination Organization (ECO) Science Foundation.

While holding these posts, he allegedly made illegal appointments apart from approving promotions while misusing his authority.

NAB Rawalpindi Director General Irfan Naeem Mangi said that in light of the directions of NAB Chairman Justice Javad Iqbal, they were trying to recover looted money from swindlers and the corrupt.

He said that the NAB chief had categorically directed to all ranks of officers of NAB to pursue corruption cases proactively as per their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Moreover, they were told to take necessary measures to arrest the corrupt and proclaimed offenders.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2018.