NAB Case: Physical remand of railways GM extended

LAHORE:

An accountability court on Saturday granted a 14-day physical remand of Pakistan Railways General Manager Saeed Akhtar to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), for allegedly selling a bulk of scrap at low rates, which caused huge losses for Pakistan Railways.

Akhtar is also accused of purchasing plots in Raiwind, Railway Colony, Shookh-Chain and other societies in 2009 and 2010 through corrupt practices.

NAB sought physical remand of the accused to investigate the matter. The investigation officer claimed that no effort was made to sell the scrap at the actual market rates.

The counsel for the accused, Advocate Asad Butt, told the court that his client was framed in the case. He added that around 4,000 tonnes of scrap were sold, while the remaining 21,000 tonnes were in the railways’ custody. He said that some contractors had paid the full amount to the railways, while the remaining had vowed before the Lahore High Court to return the full amount.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 15^th, 2012.