NAB approves filing more references against Nawaz, Gilani, Zardari

NAB chairman approves filing cases against former premiers and ex-president

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday decided to further tighten noose against politicians after its executive board approved filing references against former heads of states for inflicting losses to the national exchequer by taking gifts from the national treasury and not depositing them in the Toshakhana (national depository).

The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) presided over by NAB Chairman (retd) Justice Javed Iqbal approved filing cases against former premiers Nawaz Sharif and Yousaf Raza Gilani and ex-president President Asif Ali Zardari for keeping the government-owned valuables and vehicles in their possession.

Gifts are routinely exchanged between heads of states or officers holding constitutional positions on the eve of a state visit. According to the gift depository (Toshakhana) rules, these gifts remain the property of the state unless sold at an open auction.

Rules allow officials to retain gifts with a market value of less than Rs10,000 without paying anything.

Former president Asif Zardari is alleged to have set a record within a year of assuming office by taking one-third of all expensive gifts presented to all former presidents and prime ministers.

Of the gifts of the value of Rs160 million, the PPP leader reportedly had kept items worth Rs62 million value during the first year of his presidency.

In the past, leaders have paid as little as 15% of the assessed value of a gift. A list presented to the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat in 2019 had revealed that only 447 of the 3,486 gifts received by state representatives (from presidents down to deputy secretaries) during foreign visits were deposited in the gift depository. The rest were retained by the receivers after paying a meagre amount or free of cost.

NAB files reference against former minister

Filing of reference against Anwar Majeed and Abdul Ghani Majeed has also been approved in the same connection.
The EBM approved filing three references, four investigations and nine inquiries.

The meeting sanctioned filing corruption references against former ambassador Kamran Shafi and ex-high commissioner in UK Wajid Shamsul Hassan for inflicting losses of $27,000 and 28,000 pounds respectively to the national exchequer.

The honorary secretary of State Bank of Pakistan Abdullah Alvi has also been named in an inquiry for fleecing Rs7.8 million in the name of a housing society.

The EBM approved conducting investigations against Nishat Chunian Power Limited, NEPRA and Central Power Purchase Agency, Health Government Sindh and Health Department Balochistan.

Inquiries against Safe City Project Islamabad, TEPA, LDA and former secretary local government Sindh Muhammad Ramadan, GAPCO Project Director Mohammed Riaz, Bank of Khyber Peshawar, MNA Sardar Ashaq Hussain Gopang, Javed Iqbal Patwari, Alipur Muzaffargarh, DHQ Teaching Hospital DG Khan, former MPA Shaukah Basra and the owners of the Abdullah Shah Ghazi Sugar mills Limited had also been approved.

Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal said that the anti-corruption watchdog had deposited Rs158 billion indirectly and indirectly in national treasury in the last two months, while international bodies like World Economic Forum had praised the NAB initiatives.

The national graft-buster on Thursday also nominated Asif Zardari in the Thatta Water Supply scheme reference.

This is the third reference in which the PPP co-chairperson has been nominated. It pertains to the fake accounts case.

According to the accountability reference, Harish and Company had taken a contract for water supply from the Special Initiative Department of Sindh but had not initiated any work on the project.
It was further alleged that the funds had been used to meet the expenses of Naudero House.

NAB claimed that Harish and Company was the frontline firm of Zardari’s Park Lane Estate which caused a loss of Rs60 million to the national exchequer.

The bureau had nominated 15 accused in the reference including Ejaz Ahmed Khan, former secretary of the Special Initiative Department of Sindh; Hassan Ally Memon, project director/chairman of the procurement committee for the water supply scheme, Thatta; and members of the committee namely Ali Akbar Abro, Aijaz Ahmed Memon, Athar Nawaz Durrani, Abdul Haleem Memon, Mohammad Farrukh Khan, Mohammad Ramzan, Mohammad Siddiq Sulemani and Zeeshan Hasan Yousaf; private contractor Harish, Omni Group CEO Khawaja Abdul Ghani Majeed, and Menahel Majeed.

Earlier, the PPP leader had been nominated in the money laundering and Park Lane reference.