NAB chairman briefed on Lahore’s cases

Key developments regarding mega corruption scandals of ruling as well as opposition parties' leaders is expected in coming days as Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal visited Lahore to get a briefing on major investigations in the region.

The key cases are discussed by the executive board of NAB that takes important decisions about them. The meeting of the. board is held as per schedule. If an important development regarding a big scandal takes place during the period between two meetings, it is discussed with the chairperson NAB. In the recent past, key developments like arrests of prominent individuals or launch of investigations by NAB Lahore has been witnessed after visits of the chairperson.

During the latest visit, he was briefed in detail by the director general (DG) NAB Lahore along with Combined Investigation Teams (CITs) regarding developments in a case of Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar and officials of excise and taxation department for issuing a liquor licence to a hotel; a money laundering reference against former CM Mian Shahbaz Sharif and his family members, an inquiry against various officials regarding alleged changes in Lahore’s master plan; an assets case against Punjab Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, investigation against Minister Sibtain Khan; assets beyond means case against PTI Member of Provincial Assembly Malik Ghazanfar Abbas Cheena; inquiry against PTI's Member of National Assembly Khusro Bakhtiar and Provincial Minister for Finance Hashim Jawan Bakht; complaint of allegedly accumulating assets beyond known sources of income against sitting Malik Karamat Ali Khokhar; and a complaint against PTI’s Punjab Minister for Labour and Manpower Ansar Majeed Khan Niazi regarding appointments, transfers and postings in Punjab Employees Social Security Institution.

During the briefing, the chairman NAB stressed the need for pursuance of all cases on a fast track basis on merit, said the NAB spokesperson .

He reiterated the commitment that there would be no lenience for corruption and corrupt elements.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2020.