NAB files reference against Rauf Siddiqui, others

Pertaining to illegal appointments in SSIC, fake accounts and corruption

KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed the reference pertaining to illegal appointments in Sindh Small Industries Corporation (SSIC) on Wednesday against Muttahida Quami Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Rauf Siddiqui and others, before the administrative judge of Karachi's accountability courts. The court accepted the reference and issued arrest warrants for the accused who are on the run. These include SSIC Regional Director Syed Ayaz Farooq.

According to the reference, seven of the accused in the case including Rauf Siddiqui are currently on bail. The accused allegedly made illegal appointments in SSIC from 2008 to 2014 and caused losses to the national treasury.

The court summoned Siddiqui and others who are out on bail on the next hearing.

Fake accounts case

Meanwhile, an accountability court handed over another accused, Ziaur Rasheed, to the NAB for a four-day transit remand in the fake accounts case.

The additional registrar of company registration in the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), Ziaur Rasheed, was presented before the court. According to Rasheed's statement before the court, he registered Park Lane and other companies as per routine around 10 years ago. There was no mala fide intention behind the registration of these companies, he maintained, adding that he had stated his position on the issue before NAB officials when they summoned him. "I have been arrested today. I was going on vacation with my children in a few days," he said.

The court inquired why the accused hadn't filed for pre-arrest bail when NAB summoned him.

Rasheed said he was under the impression that NAB officials were satisfied with what he had told them.

The court handed over Rasheed to NAB officials for four-day physical remand and directed NAB officials to present him before the Islamabad accountability court in four days.

Corruption reference

Another accountability court summoned the witness, after the completion of cross-examination of his statement in the corruption reference of Rs5.76b in the Sindh information department.

Jail authorities produced former information minister Sharjeel Memon and other accused before the court. Counsels for the accused completed cross examination of NAB witness, Information Officer Zafarullah Mallah's, statement.

The court summoned Mallah and adjourned hearing. Mallah's statement will be recorded today (Thursday).

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2019.