Photo file of Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. PHOTO: AFP
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday filed an ‘interim’ reference against nine out of 10 accused persons in the Rental Power Projects case, documents available with The Express Tribune revealed.
Interestingly, NAB held back the name of former premier Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in the reference filed with an accountability court, despite the fact that a report signed by the bureau’s chairman, also available with The Express Tribune, states that evidence indicated that the former premier committed offence of corruption and corrupt practices.
The 26-page investigation report and the reference revealed that the bureau had not cleared the ex-PM in the case, and observed that his fate would be determined after he returns a questionnaire sent by investigators, as well as after the return of Shahid Rafi, the former water and power ministry secretary and former chairman of Pepco.
Ashraf is alleged to have wilfully allowed the processing of unsolicited proposal in violation of PPRA Rules 2004 and obtaining its approval from the ECC. He has, therefore, been accused of misuse of authority in obtaining approval from the ECC through misleading facts, and giving undue benefit to the sponsors of RPPs by allowing the shifting of machinery without having competent authority, in violation of Nepra rules.
The NAB investigation report also stated that the accused appeared in person and was confronted with the record and examined. However, his defence was not plausible.
Upon his request, a questionnaire has been served upon him for a detailed written defence.
Ashraf’s role in the case was discussed in detail at a case briefing held at NAB Rawalpindi on May 17, 2013. The NAB chairman said that after a detailed discussion with the NAB prosecutor general accountability and the NAB Rawalpindi team, it was decided that till former Water and Power secretary Shahid Rafi is out of the country, Ashraf’s role could not be confirmed. Moreover, the questionnaire is still awaited.
The nine accused persons were identified as former Ministry of Water and Power secretary, former Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) chairman Shahid Rafi , former Ministry of Water and Power additional secretary Sheikh Zarrar Aslam , former Pepco managing director (MD) and CEO Engineer Tahir Basharat Cheema, former director of Pepco board of directors (BOD) Malik Muhammad Razi Abbas, Pepco BOD former director Wazir AliBhayo, former Wapda Power Privatization Organization (WPPO) general manager Rana Muhammad Amjad, CEO and Director Central Power Generation Company Limited (CPGCL) Tariq Nazir, former CPGCL CEO as well as director Abdul MalikMemon and for Pepco MD Rasool Khan Mehsud.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 28th, 2013.
COMMENTS (3)
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I think we can expect some improvement in NAB performance after Fasih Bukhari.
I am sure NAB included them in ECL on Apr 3, 2012. How come Mr.Shahid Rafi is outside the country?
where is chairman wapda in the list? he too is equally responsible