Rs23b scam: NAB files case against eight suspects

PSO, BPPL officials allegedly involved in the fraud

KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday filed a Rs23 billion corruption reference against officials of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and Byco Pakistan Petroleum Ltd (BPPL) in an accountability court. According to NAB, the reference was filed against eight suspects including the PSO former managing director Naeem Yahya Mir, former director of the ministry of petroleum and natural resources, and other suspects including Nazir Ahmed Zaidi, Zulfiqar Ali Jaffery, Akhter Zameer, Kamran Iftikhar Lari and Amir Abbasi. Zulfiqar Ali Jaffery was arrested from Islamabad while Nazir Ahmed Zaidi was arrested from Baltistan. Due to the collusion of the suspects, the national exchequer curtailed a loss of Rs23b.

Sharjeel Memon case

An accountability court postponed the hearing of the Rs5.76 billion corruption reference relating to the information department due to the absence of the judge till November 12. The hearing of the case against former minister Sharjeel Memon, suspects Inam Akbar, Sarang Latif, Yusuf Kabro and others was heard by the link judge.

Land fraud

The accused in a corruption case worth billions of rupees were given a 10-day physical remand to NAB by an accountability court and the hearing of the case was adjourned till November 2. The accused were presented in court before an administrative judge. Arrested accused include former Scheme 33 Mukhtiyarkar Muhammad Iqbal Awan and Muhammad Ibrahim. Investigation officer requested for a 14-day remand. The court, however, handed over the accused to NAB for 10 days. The accused were allegedly involved in the manipulation of the land record in Scheme 31, 33 and 29. They acquired Rs1.8b while committing fraud with 275 people and sold the land for a second time for Rs5.5b.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2018.