Ex-police chief in K-P faces NAB inquiry

Malik Naveed is accused of procuring arms at exorbitant prices on the pretext of fighting terror.

ISLAMABAD:

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to conduct an inquiry into the procurement of arms by top police officials in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) at exorbitant prices on the pretext of fighting terrorism, officials said.

The executive board of NAB approved an inquiry against former inspector general police Malik Naveed, additional inspector general police Abdul Majid Khan Marwat and former assistant inspector general police Sadiq Kamal Khan, according to an official statement.

Officials investigating the case told The Express Tribune that Malik Naveed was wanted by NAB in various corruption cases. “Naveed made millions in an arms purchase deal worth Rs6 billion with a Chinese firm a few years back,” alleged an investigator.

Interestingly, Naveed is now pursuing a political career and has recently joined the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf after a successful career in the police force. At present he is working with his close friend, head of PTI’s scrutiny committee in the province, Rustam Shah Mohmand.

“Those who have lodged a reference against me in the NAB court have lost their nerves. I was the person who helped the Pakistan Army restore the government’s writ in Swat,” Naveed told The Express Tribune, last month.

The board meeting, chaired by NAB chairman Admiral (retd) Fasih Bokhari, on Wednesday also authorised an investigation into the Royal Palm Golf Club case, directing investigators to ascertain the extent of losses caused to the national exchequer. The members believed that the case involved intentional misuse of land and the bureau would move readjust the agreement executed in favour of the concerned contractor. The board also approved the filing of a reference against former vice president United Bank Limited Quetta Muhammad Nawaz Qazi for the misappropriation of funds.

In a case pertaining to the allotment of plots to seven members of the Provincial Assembly from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the board referred the case back to NAB, Peshawar, requesting the provincial government to seek regularisation as per the government’s rules of procedures.

The board meeting also approved the closure of two inquiries, cases pertaining to Sindh, due to lack of evidence. The board had ordered investigators the closure of investigation against two former MPAs,  Lal Bux Bhutto of the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pervaiz Ahmed Khan of the Awami National Party last month. However, no details pertaining to the corruption charges against these leaders were mentioned in the notification. ANP leader Pervaiz Ahmed Khan joined PTI in December after quitting his party.

In another case submitted by NAB, Balochistan, the NAB chairman directed the regional office to further probe the role of flour mill owners who were a party to the embezzlement of wheat from a government godown in Quetta.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2011.