NAB arrest four accused in Saaf Pani scam
Punjab Saaf Pani Company is one of the 56 companies formed by the chief minister
PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
As part of its investigations into 56 public companies of Punjab government, National Accountability Bureau Lahore (NAB) has arrested four accused of embezzlement in the Punjab Saaf Pani Company (PSPC) on Tuesday.
The arrested accused persons were identified as Nasir Qadir, Dr Zaheerul Din, Muhammad Saleem and Muhammad Masood Akhtar. The accused were involved in corruption of millions of rupees and substantial evidence has been have found against them, NAB said.
Accused Nasir Qadir worked as a chief procurement officer in PSPC. Dr Zaheerul Din was appointed as chief technical officer of the project while Saleem Akhtar worked with the company as a procurement and contract specialist. Accused Masoood Akhtar, KSB Pumps managing director, has been affiliated with the company as a contractor.
The accused persons in connivance with each other caused loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer. They installed 116 water filtration plants on exorbitant rates in Bahawalpur and mentioned false estimates of the plants in documents.
Shehbaz’s son-in-law absent from NAB hearing
NAB said the accused were provided a fair opportunity to present their version in their defence. The accused would be produced before an accountability court for physical remand.
An investigation officer told The Express Tribune NAB had arrested Punjab Power Development Company Limited (PPDCL) Chief Financial Officer Ikram Naveed for his alleged involvement in embezzlement of Rs232 million. The Anti-Corruption Establishment Lahore Region had also indicted him in the case.
PSPC is one among 56 companies formed by the hief minister. Chairperson NAB Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal had ordered an inquiry into complaints of embezzlement in these companies. Besides, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had also taken notice regarding PSPC and provision of clean drinking water. Two weeks ago, during the proceedings before the court, the officers of the Punjab government had conceded that at least Rs4 billion had been spent so far but PSPC had yet to produce a single drop of clean drinking water.
Meanwhile, an accountability court handed over ex-director general of Lahore Development Authority Ahad Khan Cheema and three others on a nine-day remand to NAB for investigations. The defence counsel pleaded that NAB had entered into a blind alley and had nothing substantial to indict the accused. He also alleged that NAB demanded remand of the accused over very minor things. The consul also alleged of harassment of friends and family of the accused persons. The court after hearing arguments handed over the accused persons to NAB on physical remand till April 26.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2018.
As part of its investigations into 56 public companies of Punjab government, National Accountability Bureau Lahore (NAB) has arrested four accused of embezzlement in the Punjab Saaf Pani Company (PSPC) on Tuesday.
The arrested accused persons were identified as Nasir Qadir, Dr Zaheerul Din, Muhammad Saleem and Muhammad Masood Akhtar. The accused were involved in corruption of millions of rupees and substantial evidence has been have found against them, NAB said.
Accused Nasir Qadir worked as a chief procurement officer in PSPC. Dr Zaheerul Din was appointed as chief technical officer of the project while Saleem Akhtar worked with the company as a procurement and contract specialist. Accused Masoood Akhtar, KSB Pumps managing director, has been affiliated with the company as a contractor.
The accused persons in connivance with each other caused loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer. They installed 116 water filtration plants on exorbitant rates in Bahawalpur and mentioned false estimates of the plants in documents.
Shehbaz’s son-in-law absent from NAB hearing
NAB said the accused were provided a fair opportunity to present their version in their defence. The accused would be produced before an accountability court for physical remand.
An investigation officer told The Express Tribune NAB had arrested Punjab Power Development Company Limited (PPDCL) Chief Financial Officer Ikram Naveed for his alleged involvement in embezzlement of Rs232 million. The Anti-Corruption Establishment Lahore Region had also indicted him in the case.
PSPC is one among 56 companies formed by the hief minister. Chairperson NAB Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal had ordered an inquiry into complaints of embezzlement in these companies. Besides, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had also taken notice regarding PSPC and provision of clean drinking water. Two weeks ago, during the proceedings before the court, the officers of the Punjab government had conceded that at least Rs4 billion had been spent so far but PSPC had yet to produce a single drop of clean drinking water.
Meanwhile, an accountability court handed over ex-director general of Lahore Development Authority Ahad Khan Cheema and three others on a nine-day remand to NAB for investigations. The defence counsel pleaded that NAB had entered into a blind alley and had nothing substantial to indict the accused. He also alleged that NAB demanded remand of the accused over very minor things. The consul also alleged of harassment of friends and family of the accused persons. The court after hearing arguments handed over the accused persons to NAB on physical remand till April 26.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2018.