"During my tenure, the province was passing through a critical situation due to militancy and I was under pressure to purchase weapons," Former IGP Malik Naveed. PHOTO: APP/FILE
The accused was presented before the accountability court amidst high security on Thursday for physical remand to investigate scam worth billions of rupees. Naveed was arrested by NAB on Wednesday after a meeting at their office.
The statement issued at Naveed’s arrest reads: Upon the request of the police department, the K-P government approved the purchase and upgrade of weapons and equipment to counter deteriorating security in the province. Over Rs7 billion was released for said procurement in 2008.
NAB Special Prosecutor Umer Farooq told the former IGP managed to award contracts to unqualified contractors, and was instrumental in obtaining substandard equipment and material, which resulted in heavy losses to the government exchequer, said Farooq.
There is sufficient evidence against the accused on the record, he argued. This includes a statement from the co-accused confirming Naveed’s involvement in the offence. Therefore, his physical custody is necessary in order to unearth the actual amount of embezzlement, said Farooq.
Former IGP’s counsel Sadiq Haider Qureshi informed the court his client is a heart patient and has a doctor’s appointment in Karachi in December, so he should not be given in remand to NAB. Former IGP Naveed has had heart surgery and is not fit for physical custody, he added.
Qureshi said his client was not concerned with the contract in question, as it was completed after undertaking all codal formalities and with recommendations of the relevant committee. Qureshi argued the statement from the co-accused is the result of coercion and cannot be given any weight in Naveed’s case.
Recording his statement at court, Malik Naveed said there was a 30-member purchase committee but all allegations of embezzlement were made against just him.
“During my tenure, the province was passing through a critical situation due to militancy and I was under pressure to purchase weapons and other equipment for the police department in order to cope with the crisis.” he stated.
“In view of available records in shape of documentary evidence and statement of co-accused, the accused is charged for the commission of offences of corruption, causing a loss to the government exchequer worth Rs1825.831 million, and of procurement of substandard equipment,” reads the order issued by Judge Wilayat Ali Khan.
Malik Naveed is now to be produced before the court on December 4.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 22nd, 2013.
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@Muslim Leaguer: Are you stupid? Do you really believe that one government servant could carry out all this on his own. You do know that the purchase of weapons have to be approved by the ministry of interior as advised by the interior secretary and sometimes the principal secretary. The PMLN is as crooked as the ANP PPP and MQM. Also the IG has had heart surgery twice, once while in office and again recently. If you're going to blab about a case then at least read up on it.
The problem with these culprits is that they get "seriously ill" whenever they are sent behind the bars. The personal property, of not only this person but those who appointed him, should be confiscated & auctioned to recover the looted money. The PMLN Government needs to do a lot to recover the taxpayers money looted during the tenure of PPP & its so-called secular coalition partners (ANP & MQM).