Swati skips NAB in Rs40b case

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Senator Azam Swati failed to appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with the Rs40 billion Kohistan mega corruption scandal, despite being served a notice. Instead, his legal counsel appeared on his behalf.

According to NAB sources, Swati's lawyer was instructed that the senator must appear in person. The lawyer requested a week's extension, but NAB refused the request and instructed Swati to appear without delay. A second notice will soon be issued, NAB confirmed.

The initial notice required Azam Swati to appear on Monday as part of an inquiry into suspicious financial transactions linked to the Kohistan corruption case. NAB alleges that Rs300 million were transferred into Azam Swati's personal bank account, raising serious concerns about financial irregularities.

NAB is investigating the Kohistan scandal following revelations of widespread corruption amounting to Rs40 billion. The bureau has directed Swati to submit the financial records of Kohistan Associates and Builders, including detailed bank account information.

It is worth noting that billions of rupees were reportedly deposited into the company's accounts during the year 2024. The scandal came to light earlier this year, prompting the provincial government to formally request an NAB investigation. Subsequently, a cabinet-level inquiry committee, headed by the chief minister, was also formed to oversee the case.

It may be mentioned here that last month the K-P government launched an investigation into the mega corruption scandal in Kohistan district, where an estimated Rs40 billion has allegedly been siphoned off from the provincial treasury.

The scandal came under intense scrutiny during a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Speaker of the K-P Assembly, Babar Saleem Swati.

Officials from the Finance Department and the Accountant General's office admitted during the session that billions had been misappropriated from government funds.

While an official embezzlement figure of Rs24 billion has been confirmed so far, PAC members expressed dissatisfaction with the explanations provided by Secretary Finance and the Accountant General.