Imran Zuberi fined Rs70 million; former manager of National Bank Muhammad Riaz acquitted. PHOTO: FILE
An accountability court handed a 7-year jail term to the former director-general finance of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) who was involved in a 80-million-rupee- scam.
Accountability Judge Bashir Ahmed announced the decision on Thursday, handing 7-year imprisonment to Imran Ahmed Zuberi. The court also fined him with Rs70 million, however, it acquitted former manager of National Bank Muhammad Riaz in the same case.
In 2010, NAB had filed a corruption reference against Zuberi for embezzlement of Rs80.175m in the finance department of PTA. According to the reference, Zuberi had opened fabricated accounts in his tenure and used Rs80.175million for personal gains.
While giving details, a PTA official said that during Zuberi’s tenure as DG finance, he opened various accounts in different banks and transferred millions of rupees personally giving a dent to national exchequer.
Earlier, the court had issued warrant to arrest Zuberi but he had managed to escape to the US. The official said that the then PTA chairman had ordered departmental inquiry against Zuberi in which he was found guilty. “The inquiry committee had declared him guilty,” said an official.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 29th, 2013.
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This is most unfortunate. The PTA was envisioned to help transform tele-communications in Pakistan. Instead under this corrupt official, 10's of millions were looted by him personally and no action is taken against defaulters like aqueel karim dhedhi who owe billions to PTA for licenses they took but never made operational.
They should go after the defaulters too now.