Bokhari says In the event that the inquiry is concluded unsatisfactorily, NAB can, and will, institute its own inquiry/investigation.
ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE:
The National Accountability Bureau chief said on Monday that the Rental Power Plants (RPPs) case proceedings would be put on hold until an inquiry into Kamran Faisal’s death concludes — a move that effectively renders all accused invulnerable, at least for now.
On Monday, a condolence reference was held at the NAB Headquarters for Kamran Faisal – investigation officer of the RPPs case who died under mysterious circumstances last week. Officers from NAB’s regional offices attended the reference through a video link.
Speaking on the occasion, NAB Chairman Admiral (retd) Fasih Bokhari said the RPPs case proceedings would remain on hold till the conclusion of the inquiry into Faisal’s death – which police have initially ruled a suicide.
Asked about the possibility of a departmental inquiry into the case, Bokhari said the issue (of arrests of the prime minister and other accused) would be addressed after the conclusion of the judicial inquiry into Faisal’s alleged suicide.
“In the event that the inquiry is concluded unsatisfactorily, NAB can, and will, institute its own inquiry/investigation,” Bokhari was quoted as saying in a press release issued by the bureau.
He also reprimanded the bureau’s officials for leaking secret information to the media. He said NAB investigation officers were leaking sensitive and secret information to the media, according to participants of the meeting.
“Stop breaching secrecy, this is treason,” said Bokhari. The videoconference opened with a formal address of Chairman Bokhari followed by a Q&A session.
During the Q&A session, NAB regional officials asked various questions, including about the performance of the bureau’s senior officials. Deputy Director of the Punjab chapter of NAB Ahmad Raza went to the extent of calling the senior management of NAB “corrupt”.
As precautionary measures, the NAB chairman authorised officers working on high-profile cases like the RPP to bear firearms and “keep on changing their residence”.
He also directed Asghar Khan (investigating officer of the RPPs case) and Waqas Ahmad Khan (investigation officer of the OGRA case) to immediately shift their accommodation to some “secure/safe house(s)”.
Bokhari reiterated his resolve to protect NAB officers and said it was “his responsibility to protect NAB officers and he will do that”.
Immediate demands
Also on Monday, NAB officers observed a pen-down strike across the country, and according to a handout received by The Express Tribune, they spelled out several demands.
Rejecting the judicial commission, the protesting NAB officials called for an independent commission under the chairmanship of a serving Supreme Court judge to probe Faisal’s alleged suicide.
Secondly, they demanded Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf be arrested in accordance with the Supreme Court judgment and a joint team of NAB officials be constituted to carry out an “independent and transparent” investigation into the RPPs case.
They also demanded a 20-million-rupee compensation for Faisal’s family and Sitara-e-Imtiaz for the deceased official.
Probing Faisal’s death
On the other hand, police investigators found a Polyclinic Hospital psychiatrist’s prescription from the hostel room of Faisal, suggesting he used anti-depressants and muscle relaxants.
Policlinic Hospital officials, however, denied Faisal ever consulted psychiatrist Dr Najma Aziz whose prescription was said to be recovered from his room.
“He visited Polyclinic Hospital only once on October 12, 2012 for some blood tests and X-rays examination of his neck,” a hospital official told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity.
Judicial Commission
Meanwhile, the judicial commission formed by the federal government under former Supreme Court judge Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal on Monday recorded statements of Federal Lodges 2 staff where Faisal was staying just before his death. The commission will give its report within two weeks.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 22nd, 2013.
COMMENTS (11)
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Complainant party says, it is murder, on the other hand being said this is a suicide. confrontation has been created. deceased was an official,and investigating corruption case,linked to tjhe prime minister. complainnant party now demanding a fair inquiry,that is a justified in nature,must be acceptable,because law says investigation can be made at any stage of the case.
Official's family probing a corruption case in Islamabad linked to the primeminster has called for a investigation regarding the official's death . the officer,named Kamran Faisal was found hanged in his official residence where he was present on Friday. Family memebers are claiming he had bruises on his body he was murdered but official had different view .According to them,interim post mardom examination suggested Mr. faisal had committed suicide. Inquiry team,investigating this mysterious murder said,they are investigating the case from all angles and possibilities. Views from both sudes are confronted which made the matter complicated As for as the fair investigation is concerned,it is a legal right of the effcted party/ Invesytigation can be made at any stage of the case..Authority concerned should accept this demand.
Much the best,excellent and august gamesmanship and conspiracy created by the PPP's government to secure PM Raja Pervez Ashraf alias Raja Rental Power from arrest on the Supreme Court's orders so that PM Raja Pervez Ashraf could complete his tenure before/till 15th March,2013 in his office not in the jail......
In my opinion, normally a human being takes an extreme step like suicide in a state of mental helplessness.In this case,NAB changed Kamran Faisal on his own request from RPP investigation case, but the SC reinstated him.Now, who has induced this state of helplessness in him,needs to be investigated,as also murder possibilities.
Secondly, they demanded Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf be arrested in accordance with the Supreme Court judgment and a joint team of NAB officials be constituted to carry out an “independent and transparent” investigation into the RPPs case. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ All pakistani newspapers should conduct a poll and publish the results.
@ClueGeek: "Rental Power case is all accusations with little or no proof of corruption " +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Installed Capacity some 2700 MW and generated Power 120 MW. Stinks to high heavens.
This chairman is behind the whole thing
When most of the investigators go on strike how can the case progress? It is the responsibility of Admiral FB and the SC to make sure the investigators continue to work. Both strike and work cannot go together.
Another Ahmad Raza Kasuri case in the making .. That's the last tactic in Army's handbook for handling politicians. I will not be surprised if this suicide/murder is pinned on Zardari the same way General Zia involved Bhutto in Kasuri case.
Let's keep two issues separate for the sake of nation's sanity. Rental Power case is all accusations with little or no proof of corruption and at best it was a politically charged move from establishment/judiciary to attack the elected Govt. at a very vulnerable time for the nation. With the death of NAB officer involved with the case, the only beneficiary is establishment and they are the ones who have the capability and history of sabotaging evidence, killing witnesses and framing politicians in baseless cases.
What a farce - it was bad enough that corrupt and incompetent ruled Pakistan now murderers do as well. Can we ask British to come back for another 100 years please already - any Raj but the current murderous Raj.