NAB opens probes against politicians, bureaucrats

Graft-buster approves 16 inquiries, two investigations and as many references

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday approved 16 inquiries, two investigations and as many references against various politicians, bureaucrats and others.

The decision was taken during the NAB Executive Board Meeting chaired by its chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal.

According to the NAB spokesperson, the inquiries and investigations have been approved against the accused on the basis of allegations and after obtaining their version.



They included former Sindh food minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, officers of the Food Department, Sukkur and others; former MNA Pir Sabir Shah; officials of the Department of Revenue, Dera Ismail Khan; Brigadier Waqar, managing director, National Telecom Corporation.

Three inquiries were approved against Zahid Mir, acting managing director of the Oil and Gas Development Company and its management.

Inquiries were also initiated against PPP MPA Sharjeel Inam Memon, MPA Abdul Karim Soomro, Sardar Qaiser Abbas Khan, Sardar Nasir Abbas Khan, Sardar Lal Khan; officials and others of the Department of Revenue, Chobara Layyah; former MPA Abdul Majeed Abro, officers of the Food Department, Sukkur and others; appointment of the managing directors in the National Power Park Management Company, Government Holding Private Limited, Pakistan LNG Limited, Intra-Gas System and investment in Government Holding Private Limited; Dr Ghulam Muhammad Memon, Financial Adviser, EOBI; Salman Muhammad, Acting Vice Chancellor, Federal Urdu University Karachi; officials of the CDA, CADD, officers of Lakhra Power House, Jamshoro and others.



The executive board meeting also authorised two investigations against the management and others of the Jinnah Medical College, Peshawar and officers of the Sarhad Development Authority.

Two references

A reference will be filed against Khawaja Siddique Akbar, former chairman, Workers Welfare Board, Balochistan; former administrator, Kidney Centre, Quetta; Dr Ameer Ahmed Khan Jogezai, Mumtaz Ali Khan, former secretary, Workers Welfare Board, Balochistan and others.

They have been accused of corruption in the purchase of machinery and equipment of the Kidney Centre, Quetta, inflicting Rs54.5 million losses to the national exchequer.

The board authorised filing a corruption reference against Aslam Pervaiz Memon, former medical superintendent, Sindh Employees Security Institution, Karachi and others for inflicting Rs253.65 million losses to the national exchequer by violating relevant laws and embezzling funds.

The meeting has approved sending an inquiry case of Muhammad Saleem Khan, director general, Provincial Housing Authority, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Contractor Nisar Ahmed, Zeetullah Wazir, officers/officials and others to the chief secretary, K-P for further proceedings.

The NAB board authorised closing of inquiries against Haji Muhammad Nawaz Kakar, former minister, Balochistan; former MPA Jawad Kamran, Muhammad Iqbal, Muhammad Munir, Muhammad Rafique Paran, Punjab Environment and Management of Effluent Treatment Company, officers and officials of the Thermal Power Plant, Guddu; and complaints against officers of Wapda due to absence of evidence.

The NAB chairman said NAB was pursuing the policy of 'accountability for all' as elimination of corruption was its national duty.

It was doing utmost to ensure a corruption-free Pakistan, he added.

He directed the authorities concerned to take to logical conclusion the corruption cases on a priority basis.

“Inquiries, investigations and complaint verifications against corrupt elements must be taken to their logical conclusion within the prescribed timeframe, failing which strict action will be taken against the officers,” he said.

He directed utilising all resources to arrest proclaimed offenders so that the looted money could be recovered from the corrupt and deposited in the national exchequer.