72 corruption cases returned to NAB chief

A total of 72 corruption references against government officials and others have been sent back to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman once again from the accountability courts, judicial sources disclosed.

The references which have been returned include corruption cases against former IG Sindh Ghulam Haider Jamali and former Commissioner Larkana Ghulam Mustafa Phul. Additionally, NAB references against former president of National Bank of Pakistan Syed Ali Raza and former secretary for minority affairs Badr Jamil Mendhro have also been returned.

Sources indicate that the former government officials and other accused are charged with corruption involving millions of rupees. The references are being sent back to the NAB chairman in light of the Supreme Court orders.

References involving corruption of less than Rs500 million are being returned. However, more than 60 NAB references are still under trial in accountability courts which include illegal recruitment in PSO against former interim prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, references against Dr. Asim Hussain, illegal land allotment against former provincial minister Rauf Siddiqui, and illegal recruitments in Port and Shipping against former federal minister Babar Ghauri.