Nawaz, Shehbaz to face more NAB inquiries

The country’s top graft buster – the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) – has initiated more inquiries and investigations against a number of high-profile individuals, including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother and former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif.

 NAB on Tuesday issued a statement after its executive board meeting (EBM) which was chaired by its chairman, Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, and attended by the watchdog’s senior officials – NAB deputy chairman, prosecutor general accountability and director general operations.

 According to the statement, the participants of the meeting approved starting ‘investigations’ against Nawaz Sharif and others. However, the statement did not elaborate on the allegations against the PML-N supreme leader, who has already been convicted for corruption by a NAB court.

 NAB said the EBM also authorized inquiries against PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and former minister Sartaj Aziz – but again it did not explain their nature. However, according to APP, the investigations and inquiries have been started against the PML-N leaders in view of their alleged misuse of authority.

 The graft buster also announced to close an investigation against Shehbaz, former secretary to Punjab chief minister Javed Mehmood, Lahore Development Authority former director general Ahad Khan Cheema, and others due to absence of evidence.

 The meeting also authorized filing a corruption reference against the Earth Resource Private Limited (ERPL) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Arshad Waheed and others for their alleged abuse of authority.

 Other people against which NAB decided to start inquiries include Punjab Police former DIG Traffic Rana Iqbal Khan and others; Punjab Assembly lawmaker Mehar Hamid Rashid, Mehr Abdur Rauf , the owners/ developers and others of Heaven Villas Faisalabad; Attiqur Rehman, Sheikh Ejaz Ahmed, former MPA and others and defaulting PhD scholars of Punjab University.

 The meeting also authorized closing of inquiries against management, officers, officials and others of FIEDMC Environment Management Company; management/officers, officials and others of the Lahore Transport Company and Gujranwala Waste Management Company due to absence of evidence.

 According to the statement, NAB chairman said the bureau is doing sincere efforts to make the country corruption free with the priority to take mega corruption cases to logical conclusion.

 NAB has recovered record Rs466 billion from corrupt elements directly or indirectly and deposited the amount to the national exchequer. Different reputed national and international institutions have lauded the successes of NAB which is an honour for the bureau, it said.