RPP scam: Former premier receives NAB reference
Accused of giving undue favours to contractors in 50 megawatt Naudero-II RPP while he was minister for water and power
Former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
An accountability court on Tuesday provided copies of a reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to former premier Raja Pervez Ashraf, an accused in the rental power project (RPP) case.
The court had summoned the PPP leader on November 19 after NAB filed an interim reference against him for giving undue favours to contractors in the 50 megawatt Naudero-II RPP while he was the minister for water and power. During the course of hearing on Tuesday, Ashraf appeared before the court and was provided with copies of the reference, after which the court adjourned till December 2.
The bureau had filed a 263-page reference against Ashraf and nine other accused. NAB’s Executive Board had also decided to list the names of two alleged principal beneficiaries in the case — energy tycoon Iqbal Z Ahmed and MN Baig — but they obtained a restraining order from the Lahore High Court (LHC) and were not included in the supplementary reference.
On November 4, the court had barred NAB from taking any coercive action against Ahmed and Baig. According to NAB officials, the only way they can file a reference against the two alleged accused is if the LHC vacates the restraining order.
Based in Naudero, Sindh, the RPP contract was awarded on March 4, 2010 in alleged violation of PPRA rules. Ashraf, who was then serving as the federal minister in charge, approved the project, which NAB investigations have determined to be “unfeasible and unsolicited”. Others accused in the case include former finance minister Shaukat Tareen and former water and power secretary Shahid Rafi.
The total liability of the project, according to the ministry of water and power, is $47.76 million. The balance liability after ‘voluntary return’ by the accused stands at $106,630.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2013.
An accountability court on Tuesday provided copies of a reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to former premier Raja Pervez Ashraf, an accused in the rental power project (RPP) case.
The court had summoned the PPP leader on November 19 after NAB filed an interim reference against him for giving undue favours to contractors in the 50 megawatt Naudero-II RPP while he was the minister for water and power. During the course of hearing on Tuesday, Ashraf appeared before the court and was provided with copies of the reference, after which the court adjourned till December 2.
The bureau had filed a 263-page reference against Ashraf and nine other accused. NAB’s Executive Board had also decided to list the names of two alleged principal beneficiaries in the case — energy tycoon Iqbal Z Ahmed and MN Baig — but they obtained a restraining order from the Lahore High Court (LHC) and were not included in the supplementary reference.
On November 4, the court had barred NAB from taking any coercive action against Ahmed and Baig. According to NAB officials, the only way they can file a reference against the two alleged accused is if the LHC vacates the restraining order.
Based in Naudero, Sindh, the RPP contract was awarded on March 4, 2010 in alleged violation of PPRA rules. Ashraf, who was then serving as the federal minister in charge, approved the project, which NAB investigations have determined to be “unfeasible and unsolicited”. Others accused in the case include former finance minister Shaukat Tareen and former water and power secretary Shahid Rafi.
The total liability of the project, according to the ministry of water and power, is $47.76 million. The balance liability after ‘voluntary return’ by the accused stands at $106,630.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2013.