NAB summons Buzdar in ‘misuse of power’ case

Claims Rs50m received as bribe for issuance of illegal liquor licence


Our Correspondent August 06, 2020
PHOTO: NNI

LAHORE:

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned Punjab Chief Minister of Usman Buzdar in a case about alleged misuse of authority for issuance of an illegal liquor licence to a private hotel in return of Rs50 million as a bribe.

The chief minister has been asked to appear before a combined investigations team (CIT) at Thokar Niaz Beg NAB Complex on August 12 with relevant documents.

A private hotel in Lahore had applied to the Excise and Taxation Department for obtaining L-2 Liquor License without firstly obtaining registration and license from the Department of Tourist Services, Punjab under the Pakistan Hotels and Restaurant Act, 1976 and The Rules, 1977 with a 4-5 star rating.

He added that the condition of having of the rating was essential for obtaining the L-2 Liquor License after 2009, CM approved a policy which restricted grant of L-2 Liquor License only to hotels having 4- or 5-star rating.

The source continued that the officers of Excise and Taxation Department granted a licence in 2019 in violation of policy and without registration and license of the hotel from the Department of Tourist Services, Punjab.

He added that the excise department thrice referred the matter to the CM Office for approval.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7th, 2020.

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