NAB reviews progress in mega corruption cases

Deliberates on investigations against Zardari, Nawaz, Shehbaz and others

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday reviewed progress on key cases and inquiries of mega corruption involving former prime ministers, a president, other high-ups as well as offshore companies.

The anti-corruption watchdog chief Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal chaired a high-level meeting at the NAB Headquarters along with other officials.

The meeting reviewed the progress in the ongoing inquiries and investigations of white-collar crime cases against Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza Shehbaz, Salman Shehbaz, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz, Ahad Cheema, Fawad Hassan Fawad, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal, Miftah Ismael, Imranul Haq Sheikh and others, the NAB said in a statement.

The meeting also reviewed the progress made in the investigations of fake account cases against Asif Ali Zardari, Abdul Ghani Majeed, Anwar Majeed and others besides reviewing the recovery of looted wealth.

The progress in the investigation of 56 companies of Punjab and recovery of looted money from CEOs of public limited companies, Khichi canal, Gwadar Development Authority, sugar and wheat scandals, misappropriation of wheat in Sindh and recovery and deposit of Rs10 billion in the national exchequer was also reviewed.

Besides, the progress in inquiries and investigations in 435 offshore companies against Saifullah brothers, Aleem Khan and others was reviewed.

The mutual legal assistance applications sent to different countries, on-going inquiries and investigations against Khyber Bank, politicians Amir Muqam, Captain Safdar, Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, Akram Durrani and inquiries and investigation against fake cooperative housing societies, Modarba and Musharka scams, in which NAB had arrested 45 accused persons was also discussed.

The meeting decided to utilise all available resources for the return of looted wealth from corrupt elements, the statement said and added that the meeting also deliberated on measures taken for the arrest of proclaimed offenders and absconders.

The NAB officials also decided to conclude complaint verifications, inquiries and investigations within the prescribed time frame and filing of early hearing applications in respected accountability courts.

The national-graft buster would file appeals against the bails of accused persons after receipt of certified copies of decisions so that the cases could be logically concluded as per law and the recovered amount from corrupt elements could be deposited in the national exchequer.

The anti-graft body chief said that the NAB had already chalked out a three-pronged strategy to make Pakistan corruption free.

“The National Accountability Bureau has no affiliation with any political party as it is a national anti-corruption institution having only affiliation with the state of Pakistan,” he reiterated.

He said that NAB strictly believed in serving the country as per the law and continued to do so without any pressure, threat or propaganda.

“NAB would continue to perform its duties as per law as its officers always believe in elimination of corruption from the country,” the statement read.

The meeting was attended by the deputy chairman, prosecutor general accountability, NAB director general operations along with DG NAB Rawalpindi, while all director generals of the regional bureaus participated in the meeting through video link.