Court summons YellowLine project officials over 'irregularities'

KARACHI:

A provincial anti-corruption court has summoned former project director Zameer Ahmed Abbasi and other nominated accused in the Yellow Line corruption case after the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) submitted its charge sheet.

The court took up the case after the ACE filed the charge sheet against former director Zameer Abbasi. According to the charge sheet, alleged financial irregularities exceeding Rs8.56 billion were committed in the Yellow Line projects through illegal payments and misuse of public funds.

The charge sheet nominated Zameer Ahmed Abbasi, Director Technical Tahir Aziz Syed, Deputy Director Procurement Saleem Hussain Bhayo and former Director Procurement Jahan Das as accused.

According to the investigation, the accused allegedly disregarded prescribed procedures in projects financed by the World Bank and made billions of rupees in advance payments to contractors.

The charge sheet stated that advance payments totalling Rs8.56 billion were made to contractors. It further alleged violations of the World Bank's procurement procedures and the terms of construction contracts, with financial disbursements exceeding the actual physical progress of the projects. Former Project Director Zameer Ahmed Abbasi has been accused of allegedly abusing his authority, while former Director Procurement Jahan Das is accused of violating contractual obligations and procurement rules.