NAB opens new inquiry against Shehbaz

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has given the nod to conduct another inquiry against PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif. However, the top graft buster has also decided to close an inquiry against another PML-N leader Ishaq Dar.

NAB made this decision on Wednesday at its executive board meeting (EBM) held at the NAB headquarters in Islamabad. NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal chaired the meeting.

The EBM discussed the closure of Roosevelt Hotel in New York after 100 years of operation and decided to review the terms of reference (TORs) of the committee constituted by the government in this regard.

It also approved filing two corruption references respectively against former Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman Imtaiz Inayat Elahi and others and Karachi Municipal Corporation former director general parks and horticulture Liaquat Ali Khan and others.

Imtaiz Inayat Elahi is accused of misusing his authority and allotting two canceled commercial plots. He allegedly inflicted Rs200 million losses to the exchequer. Liaquat Ali Khan is accused of illegally allotting a plot reserved for welfare activities.

The EBM gave the nod to conduct eight inquiries against various personalities.

These include Shehbaz Sharif and others; Riaz Lal G and others; National Highway Authority (NHA) former officer Ali Sher Mehsood and others; Public Private Partnership Authority CEO Malik Ahmed Khan and others and  officers and officials of the Rawalpindi Development  Authority.

The other people who will face NAB inquiries include Health Ministry Joint Secretary Asadullah Faiz; officers and officials of the Small Dams Organization and others; management and others of the National Food Security and Research and the officers and officials of the CDA.

The EBM also decided to refer investigations against various officers and officials to their respective organizations and ministries for departmental action.

It referred an investigation against officials of the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) to the Ministry of Interior; two cases to the CDA and cases against officers and officials of the NHA to the Ministry of Communication.

The EBM also decided to close the inquiries against former finance minister Ishaq Dar; Federal Board of Revenue former chairman Tariq Bajwa and others; officers and officials of the Irrigation Department and Nasir Mehmood Abbasi owing to absence of evidence. APP