NAB yet to conclude fake accounts’ investigation

Senior NAB official says bureau is likely to summon all the accused to record their statements soon

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has submitted its progress report to the Supreme Court on the ongoing investigation in the fake bank accounts case.

Despite the passage of two months deadline, the bureau has been unable to conclude the investigation.

The Supreme Court had in January tasked NAB with probing the case after a joint investigation team report revealed that at least 29 bank accounts identified as fake had been used for money laundering to the tune of Rs42 billion. The report implicated former president Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur, prominent banker Hussain Lawai, Omni Group's Anwar Majeed and other prominent bankers and businessmen.

A senior NAB official revealed to The Express Tribune that an interim report in a sealed envelope had been filed in the Supreme Court on Thursday, adding that the NAB was yet to complete its investigation in the matter.

A senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader also confirmed that NAB team has yet to summon the senior party leaders to record their statements on claims of Joint Investigation Team (JIT) constituted by the apex court.

Former prosecutor general NAB Raja Amir Abbas said it seemed that NAB had been delaying the matter intentionally and not summoning the accused to get their version.

However, a senior NAB official said that the bureau was likely to summon all the accused to record their statements soon.

The apex court in its January 7 verdict had directed the NAB to complete the probe within a maximum period of two months.

“We further direct that Chairman NAB shall designate a competent Director-General who shall ensure preparation and filing of references in a timely manner and follow them up till their final conclusions. Further, a team of competent and experienced investigators and prosecutors shall be constituted to prepare and prosecute the references and take them to their final conclusions. The NAB shall file periodic reports before this Court, which shall be placed before an Implementation Bench to be constituted by the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan for the said purpose”, said the judgment authored by Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan.

Interestingly, despite the passage of two months, Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa has yet to form the implementation bench.

Last month, the top court had rejected review petitions of PPP top leaders and the Omni Group owners against its January 7 judgment.