Given clean chit by NAB in Malam Jabba land case: K-P CM

My signature is not on any documents related to the case, says the CM

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Monday claimed that he had been given a clean chit in the Malam Jabba land lease case after he appeared before the accountability watchdog.

"My signature is not on any documents and I have made my first and last appearance in the case," said the provincial chief executive while addressing the media.

 



 

Khan also said he headed the tourism ministry in the previous provincial government and his portfolio was later switched to irrigation, adding that he "does not know" if he was in charge of the ministry at the time of the scandal.

The anti-corruption watchdog had also summoned the Minister for Youth Affairs, Culture and Tourism Atif Khan and PTI Senator Mohsin Aziz for their alleged involvement in the same leasing scandal in Swat district.

A 275 kanal plot of land was allegedly leased out in Malam Jabba to Atif’s relative, which according to NAB officials, incurred losses to the national exchequer.

Federal Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak and Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Principal Secretary Azam Khan have already recorded their statements in this regard.

Senator Mohsin was also called to record his testimony as he was then chairman of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Investment Board. He, however, had resigned shortly after his appointment for unknown reasons.

An advertisement published on March 3, 2014, about the Malam Jabba ski, chairlift and hotel project read stated the provincial government would arrange land measuring approximately 275 acres – five acres for hotel and 270 acres for ski resort/chairlift for a period of 33 years.

Bids were received from three parties. On the recommendation of a sub-committee, all the three firms were asked to give a presentation to the main committee. The successful bidder TCKP was asked to draft an agreement with the Samson’s Group.



The cabinet, in its meeting held on April 25, 2018, was briefed about the lease of land for the Malam Jabba chairlift and hotel. It was highlighted that the land measuring around 12 acres was leased for the chairlift and hotel while 257 acres would merely be used for roaming facility.