LAHORE:
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Punjab has launched an investigation into a multi-million-rupee Pakistan Railways scrap scandal, arresting four people on charges of embezzlement, misuse of authority and causing losses to the national exchequer, NAB officials told The Express Tribune.
The arrested men have been identified as contractor Zahir Khan, Chief Controller Stores Khalid Mohiuddin, and contractors Shabbir and Shakeel.
On the directives of the Supreme Court, NAB Punjab started a probe into the alleged disposal of 39,000 metric tonnes of scrap worth more than Rs300 million, in violation of the prescribed rules.
Mohiuddin, in connivance with different contractors, floated bulk tenders No588 and 607 for the sale of 39,000 metric tonnes of different types of scrap to restrict the competition and keep prospective bidders from participating in the process.
The alleged sale was made at throw-away prices, in gross violation of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and departmental rules.
The accused were presented before the accountability court and taken into physical remand. Further investigations against them are in progress.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 30th, 2011.
COMMENTS (3)
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The general public sincerely doubts if any thing will come out of this investigation.The result is expected to be same as previous investigation.The amount of hue and cry the media had created regarding NICL case; what was the end result.NIL.Even being sentenced to death the nation would get no benefit because we need not the souls but the money. The NAB should bargain with the accused and try to recover the amount even by putting them on duty and giving them warning. Punishment for so many peoples is enough to shake them once. May be that they were compelled to do with the circumstances and are naturally the gentle.
This might explain the shake up in the NAB. They found something and reported on it that was suppose to go unnoticed.