NAB to file reference in court minus former premier’s name

Sources say the ex-PM’s name was excluded as he is to submit a reply by June 3.

LAHORE: The Rawalpindi chapter of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has forwarded a reference pertaining to the rental power project (RPPs) case to the NAB chairman without mentioning the names of former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and other influential figures, The Express Tribune has learnt.

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 27^th, 2013.