Photo file of Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Sources in the NAB headquarters have confirmed that they have received the reference. They added that NAB Chairman Admiral (retd) Fasih Bokhari has already signed the reference and it would likely be filed before the Accountability Court Rawalpindi today (Monday).
According to sources, however, the name of Raja Pervaiz Ashraf – the principal accused in the RPPs case – was not included in the reference. They maintained the former premier’s name had been excluded since the NAB investigation team probing the case has allowed him an opportunity to submit a written reply by June 3.
A decision on including Ashraf’s name in the reference will be made after examining his statement, the sources added. If his reply is unsatisfactory, a supplementary reference which contains the former premier’s name will be submitted before the accountability court, they maintained.
NAB had summoned Ashraf for questioning by May 14, 2013 regarding corrupt practices and misuse of authority while awarding an RPP contract (Naudero-II) to Walters Power International. According to sources, the Naudero-II project is the first out of 12 RPP cases under which the former premier has been summoned.
Earlier, on March 13, 2013, NAB discreetly ended its investigation into the case without informing the Supreme Court. Official documents available with The Express Tribune reveal that the probe was closed three days before the end of the Pakistan Peoples Party-led government’s tenure. The SC had given NAB a month to complete its investigations. The bureau is supposed to submit a report by May 27 (today).
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2013.
COMMENTS (7)
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@Tahir Ali: Did Raja steal electricity or try to add electricity? You sound to be blaming him for load shedding. SC stopped rental power, you should blame them.
The NAB will file reference against "NAMAALOOM AFRAAD". You bet.
@elcay....How aptly said....couldn't be explained better ! Thank you !
Bureaucrats should learn a lesson that they will not be spared while politicians will be able to escape. I wonder why they still comply to the absolute corrupt and wrong orders of the politicians.
It is rather amazing,for 3rd June is not far away & the reference could be filed after receiving his written explanation .This precipitate action by NAB Rawalpindi requires clarification to satisfy the curious imagination of the public at large.
NAB will loose it's credibility.Every citizen of Pakistan who is suffering massive power outage, remembers who was the Minister Incharge.It happened under his watch,he has to take responsibility an dhe is responsible