NAB’s probe of development projects unnerves Punjab govt

Anti-graft watchdog says former DGPR Anwar misused his authority during his service

LAHORE: As the big guns in the power corridors of Punjab were still recovering from the shocks of the arrest of ex-director general Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Ahad Khan Cheema in Ashiana-e-Iqbal Housing Scheme scam, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore has started investigations into key appointments made by the provincial government and different projects initiated by it.

As part of the investigations, NAB has written a letter to the Punjab chief secretary about inquiry against former Punjab director general Public Relations (DGPR) Raja Jahangir Anwar and sought details. An investigation officer told The Express Tribune that Anwar had misused his authority during his service as DGPR. He was also accused of corruption by the anti-graft watchdog. NAB has also sought record from Anwar. According to the officer, Anwar had served as DGPR, a grade 20 post, while being a grade 18 officer. He had also served as secretary information.

NAB is also investigating Saaf Pani Project by the government of Punjab. Billions of rupees were spent by the provincial government on the project but it could not be initiated.

On Tuesday, Health Secretary Najam Hussain Shah, as a member of Board of Governors in Saaf Pani Project, also appeared before NAB. He answered the queries of NAB for at least two hours. An officer told The Express Tribune that Saaf Pani Project was at its very initial stage. NAB was investigating it rigorously and expected in a bid to mature the investigations by substantial evidence of corruption. NAB had also called in Planning and Development Secretary Iftikhar Sahu and Housing Society Secretary Agha Khuram. All of them appeared before the NAB’s investigations team.

Meanwhile, NAB has also started investigations into “Apna Rozgar Scheme”, a subsidised taxi scheme initiated by the government of Punjab. As part of the programme, thousands of vehicles were provided to the public on subsidised rates. An investigation officer said the contract of the project was handed over to a company without following the standard bidding procedure. As part of the investigations, NAB has written to Punjab Planning and Department for details of records of the project.

Meanwhile, NAB issued pictures of four accused persons in Ashiana housing scam, Punjab Land Development Company Chief Engineer Arif Majeed Butt, PLDC Chief Executive Imtiaz Haider, Strategic Policy Unit of LDA Economic Specialist Bilal Qudwai and Chief Engineer Israr Saed, arrested a few days back. While presenting the grounds of their arrest, NAB said the accused had misused their authority and were involved in corruption while performing their duties in Ashiana project. Their actions had caused a loss of Rs1 billion to the national exchequer. NAB said that they wanted to dispel the impression that the accused were being tortured in custody on physical remand.

In November 2017, NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal had issued orders for investigations into corruption in 56 companies in Punjab.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2018.