NAB closes inquiry against PML-N’s Safdar

EBM okays filing of three references, approves nine inquiries and three investigations

ISLAMABAD:

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday closed its inquiry against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former National Assembly member Captain Safdar Awan, because of absence of proof, the graft-buster said in a press release.

It said that the Executive Board Meeting (EBM) of NAB, chaired by its Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, authorised filing of three references and approved nine inquiries and three investigations against various suspects on allegation of inflicting billion of rupees losses to the national exchequer.

“The EBM authorised closing inquiries against officers and officials of NHA (National Highway Authority), Captain (Retd) Safdar Awan, former MNA, officers, officials of Pak P.W.D and others, Muhammad Arsila Khan and others, Dr Mujeebur Rehman, former DIG and others, Amanullah Khan Jadoon, former Petroleum Minister and others, [and] closing investigations against officers and officials of Gilyat Development Authority due to absence of proof as per law,” the press release said.

The forum authorised filing of three references, including a reference against Ehsanullah Mehsood, former senior member of the Board of Revenue, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on the accusations of allegedly allotting 1,976 Kanal state land in Dera Ismael Khan by abuse of power which caused heavy losses to the national exchequer.

The EBM okayed filing another reference against Maqbool Ahmed Lehri, former district Nazim, Dr Kalimullah, former Mayor, Metropolitan Corporation Quetta and others. The suspects have allegedly been involved in doling out 5,292 square feet state land on lease at much cheaper rates illegally to favourites thus inflicting Rs529 million losses to the national exchequer.

The EBM authorised filing another corruption reference against Mir Muhammad Amin Umrani, former provincial Excise and Taxation minister, Balochistan, and others on the accusations of amassing assets totally unmatched to their known sources of income – obviously by abusing authority.

'Sharifs failed to disclose sources of income to NAB' 

The EBM approved nine inquiries against various personalities, including Amir Muqam, a PML-N leader and former adviser to the prime minister. The others, against whom the inquiries were approved were Dr Naveed, Director General Agriculture Research, Tariq Mehmood, administrative officer and others, officers and officials of ministry of housing and works, Pakistan Works Department and others, Mumtaz Khan and others, Nasir Khan, former MNA, Shahab Khattak, Secretary C&DW Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and others, Muhammad Naseem, Managing Director, Nasir, Ghafoor, General Manager, Aliur Rehman, Zonal Manager, WSSP and others, officers, officials of the Revenue Department, Gwadar, Ghulam Hussain Jaffar and others, and chairman of the Township Housing Scheme, district Khuzdar

The forum okayed three investigations which includes the management of Health Department, Quetta and others, Abdur Razzaq Durrani, former director general of the Gwadar Port Authority and officers and others, and officials of the Revenue Department, Gwadar, and others.

The EBM also transferred the inquiry against officers and officials and others of the Civil Aviation Authority to Director General Civil Aviation Authority for further proceedings.

The forum authorised sending three inquiries against the officers and officials of the NTDC to National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) for further action.