Former secretary becomes ‘approver’ in rental case

In a reference filed by the NAB against alleged irregularities in a rental power deal

ISLAMABAD: In a reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against alleged irregularities in a rental power deal, the former secretary water and electricity Shahid Rafi has become an approver.

Judge Muhammad Arshad Malik of the Islamabad’s Accountability Court-II on Friday accepted NAB’s request to accept the accused as an approver. Rafi informed the court that he is ready to record his confessional statement and reveal facts.

He will record statement against other accused – former premier Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Babar Zulqarnain. NAB prosecutor said the accused Laeeq Ahmed had also made revelations during probe. According to the accused, Raja Zulqarnain took one million UAE Dirham through his daughter Rabia Laeeq.

Separately, the Accountability Court-I judge Muhammad Bashir also granted time to NAB to file supplementary reference against Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and others in the Sahiwal rental power reference as he postpone the hearing till May 14.