NAB to conduct 12 high-level inquiries

Okays filing reference against ex-Sindh minister Rauf Siddiqui over misappropriation of Rs420m govt funds

ISLAMABAD: An Executive Board Meeting (EBM) of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday approved conducting 12 inquiries, filing corruption references against various accused and closing an inquiry over absence of evidence.

The meeting, chaired by NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, approved conducting inquiries against former National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) president Saeed Ahmed and officers, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) officials, Ministry of Water and Power officials, and Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) officers.

Sponsors of Port Qasim Coal Power projects and others, Messers Hasnain Cotex and others, Lahore DIG Police Haider Ashraf, Lahore CCPO Amin Venas, SSP Umer Virk and others, Karachi, Baldia Town MPA and former town nazim Kamran Akhtar, Sindh Health Department officials, University of Swabi officials, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s public sector companies officials, Civil Aviation Authority, Bacha Khan International Airport, Peshawar, PATA officers, former NARA director Saeed Ahmed Jagrani, and others are also included in the investigation.



The EBM also approved filing corruption reference against former Sindh minister for industries and commerce Muhammad Abdul Rauf Siddiqui and others over the accusation of 372 illegal appointments and misappropriation of government funds, causing Rs420 million loss to the national exchequer.

The EBM accorded approval to close inquiries against officials of Allama Iqbal Open University and others, Fund for Rehabilitation of Special Persons Limited, Lahore and others, former AIG Abdul Qadeer Bhatta and others, DIG Aamir Zulfikar and others, former Pakistan Steel Mills Principal Executive Officer Wasif Mehmood and others, officers of Dadu division, Shaheed Benazirabad district, Shaikh Zayed College, Rahim Yar Khan Principal Dr Mubarak Ali and others due to absence of evidence.

The EBM also approved closing investigation against officers and officials of Capital Development Authority (CDA), and others as per law.



It was decided that the NAB spokesperson, from now onwards, would concentrate on pursuing mega corruption cases with renewed vigour.

In this regard, the EBM decided to refer inquiry being conducted against the officials of Central Power Purchasing Agency Limited and others to the relevant department for further legal action.

The EBM also approved sending an inquiry against Ayub Medical and Teaching Institution, Abbottabad and others, to Higher Education Department Islamabad as per law.

The NAB chairman said, “Corruption is the root cause of all ills. NAB is vigorously pursuing the policy of ‘accountability for all.”

NAB believes in punishing the corrupt elements and proclaimed offenders as per law, he added.