Court questions delay in filing reference against Ahsan Iqbal

PML-N leader has been accused of ‘misusing’ his office of planning and development minister

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Monday expressed displeasure over the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and asked its chairman why a reference against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal in the Narowal Sports City Project had not been filed yet.

According to the bureau, Iqbal had initiated the sports complex project in his hometown, Narowal, and allowed escalation in its cost from Rs750 million to Rs2.5 billion by “misusing” his office of planning and development minister.

NAB contended that the PML-N leader was also the deputy chairman of the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) of the Planning Commission at the time and rather than taking the project to the CDWP, he instead approved it on his own.

As the proceedings started, Iqbal remarked that it had been two years since the investigation started and that he was also arrested during this period, but the probe was yet to finish.

The NAB prosecutor responded by saying that the case was earlier with the Federal Investigation Agency and later transferred to the anti-corruption watchdog.

The court observed that the case which was transferred from the FIA did not include Iqbal's name.

“NAB should inform if the case against Ahsan Iqbal will be filed or should it be disposed of,” the judge asked the prosecutor.

The PML-N secretary general requested the court to summon the NAB chairman in person.

The national graft-buster’s prosecutor argued that the NAB chairman had appointed him as their representative.

“The court should give NAB one last chance to register a case,” Iqbal said.

The court asked why a reference against the PML-N leader had not been filed yet.

“NAB chairman should tell why a reference has not been filed,” said the accountability court judge and directed the anti-graft watchdog chief to submit a reply by June 26.

Earlier, Iqbal had maintained that the project was launched in 2009, while his party came to power in 2013.

Being minister for development, he noted he had taken up several incomplete projects including Narowal Sports City Project.

He said the project cost exceeded its original estimate as the plan was revived and its scope was revised to meet international standards.

He said the project was executed away from main city areas as per international practice.

The PML-N leader noted that the funds spent on the project were approved by cabinet, parliament and the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council and that 90% work on the project had been completed before the PTI came to power and suspended the work.