NAB to approach Interpol to bring back Dar, Hassan and Hussain

Former premier's sons have been declared absconders in the Avenfield case

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday decided to approach Interpol to bring back former finance minister Ishaq Dar and both the sons of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif – Hassan and Hussain Nawaz – to the country for their involvement in multiple cases pending with the bureau.

Hassan and Hussain have been declared absconders in the Avenfield reference which is at an advanced stage in the accountability court with lawyers of both sides presenting their concluding arguments.

Meanwhile, Dar has been indicted in the assets beyond income case pending before the accountability court which involves bigwigs from the State Bank and National Bank.

The bureau has decided to reach out to relevant Interpol authorities to bring back the trio. With the request, NAB will attach additional documents verifying why the three need to be brought back to the country.

Both of Nawaz’s sons are in London at the bedside of their ailing mother Begum Kulsoom Nawaz who has been on the ventilator for almost ten days. Nawaz and daughter Maryam are also currently in UK following a three-day extension in their exemption from appearance in the Avenfield reference case.



NAB Lahore

Chairman NAB Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal visited NAB’s Lahore office for the second day in a row where complying to instructions from the Supreme Court, director general NAB gave a detailed briefing about pending cases at Lahore register, including posting of former commissioner Afzal Bhatti, case involving Punjab Institute of Cardiology, references against Tariq Jawad and Makhdom Umar Shaharyar, inquiry pertaining to WAPDA officers involved in Neelum Jhelum project, inquiry against Rashid Mehmood Langria, inquiry against former CCO of Punjab Population Information Fund Javad Qureshi, inquiry against Zuhair Abbas Mehk CCO of Punjab Health Management Company, inquiry against Dr Nasir Jawad,  CCO Urban Sector Planning and Management Company, inquiry against Capt. Ret. Usman, CCO of Punjab Saaf Pani Company [South], Muhammad Ali Ammar, CCO Punjab Health Facilities Management Company, Usman Saeed, former VP of National Bank Mall Road Branch, inquiry against Agritech Company and inquiry against DHA Lahore.

The watchdog chief directed officials to complete investigations of cases referred by Supreme Court of Pakistan as per merit, in light of concrete evidence and in accordance with law.  “No negligence would be tolerated in this regard”, the chairman said, adding corruption cases should be taken to their logical conclusion as per law and after collecting concrete evidence.

“All accused are equal before law and their status and position ends outside NAB office”, he said adding that the bureau will deal cases in accordance with law of the land. The NAB chief further said that the organisation would take stern action against plunderers of national wealth, recover the looted money and deposit it to national exchequer. “NAB would force the looters and plunderers to stand in the dock”, he maintained.

 



According to sources NAB Lahore has called Aleem Khan on July 10 and Monis Illahi on July 13. Names of Fawad Hassan Fawad, former secretary to PM and Ali Jan, Secretary Health Punjab and Najam Shah, Secretary Punjab are also to be placed on Exit Control List (ECL).

Meanwhile, Justice (retd) Javed directed officers to avoid giving space to threats, pressure, and coercion while indiscriminately conducting their inquiries.

“The entire nation is looking towards us to bring embezzled money back to Pakistan” he said adding that the anti-graft institution will continue to play a pivotal role against financial corruption that has been plaguing the country for years. He maintained that corruption was fast wiping out hard-earned national resources and NAB will uproot this menace as its top priority. ”

The chairman NAB also lauded the performance of the institution’s Lahore team for their role in recovering Rs18 billion of the ransacked money, saying that such a step has reinstated public’s trust in state institutions.

“We have recovered around Rs2200 million in the past seven months, a record that must be celebrated”, the NAB chief exclaimed directing officers to conduct complaint verification, inquiries and investigations on merit, with honesty, transparency, ensuring concrete evidence and as per law of the land.