Corruption probe: NAB not investigating Bahria Town

Inquiry ordered to determine why NAB Rawalpindi said ‘no further action’ in an inquiry on DHA referred by NAB chief.

ISLAMABAD:

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is not investigating any corruption case against Bahria Town, according to a top bureau official but an internal inquiry has been launched to probe this stand.

“Presently, there is no active case against Bahria Town with NAB headquarters,” NAB spokesperson Zafar Iqbal Khan said.

Briefing the media on Thursday, Khan revealed that an internal inquiry has been ordered to determine why the NAB Rawalpindi office recommended ‘no further action’ in an inquiry against Defence Housing Authority (DHA) referred by the NAB chief.

NAB Chairman Admiral (retd) Fasih Bokhari asked NAB Rawalpindi Director General (DG) to investigate complaints against DHA. Khan said Bokhari ordered the inquiry on Col (retd) Tariq’s complaint against alleged corruption in DHA. NAB Rawalpindi, in light of their findings, recommended the NAB chief pursue ‘no further action on the complaint’. Taking strict notice of the recommendation, Bokhari directed NAB Operations DG to head the inquiry into complaints against DHA. He also ordered an internal inquiry into NAB Rawalpindi office’s findings.

Commenting on Rental Power Projects case, Khan said Rs2.2 billion has been recovered so far from different rental power companies. He added NAB is trying its utmost to recover the looted money from the companies. Talking about NLC case, the spokesman said that the joint investigation comprising both NAB and GHQ officials is in process. Three retired military generals, namely Khalid Munir Khan, Afzal Muzaffar and Khalid Zaheer Akhtar are being approached to broaden the investigation.

Commenting on Pakistan Railways’ locomotive spare parts purchase scandal, he said NAB is all set to approach then railways minister Lt General (retd) Javed Ashraf Qazi along with Lt General (retd) Saeed Zafar and Lt General (retd) Hamid Hassan to expand the investigation. NAB recently arrested the PR General Manager and Additional General Manager who are on remand with investigators.  Responding to a question about former Ogra chief Tauqeer Sadiq, the spokesman said, according to NAB’s information, he was still in the country.

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