Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. Photo: file
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has removed the name of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani from the list of accused in the multi-billion-rupee Oil and Gas Regulator Authority (Ogra) case, bureau officials told The Express Tribune.
The case relates to amassing billions of rupees in graft for allowing setting up of new CNG stations under the guise of relocating old ones despite a ban.
The then Ogra chief Tauqir Sadiq after evading arrest for months was in custody facing trial in the Rs44billion scam.
NAB investigators could not find prosecutable evidence, which was admissible before the court, against Gilani, bureau sources familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune.
In the Executive Board Meeting (EBM) of NAB held on January 1, at NAB Headquarters, the acting chairman of the bureau asked the investigation team to collaborate documentary evidence with oral evidence before inserting the name of ex-PM Gilani so as to strengthen the case, sources said.
During the EBM, the chair as well as prosecuting wing raised objections regarding evidence of the role of former PM Gilani in the Ogra scam.
NAB Rawalpindi had prepared an 80-page investigation report for filing the second Ogra reference before the Accountability Court, but it could not satisfy the queries of the prosecution wing to include Gilani’s name.
NAB spokesman Ramzan Sajid confirmed that a pre-board meeting of NAB officials observed that the evidence available against former PM Gilani in the Ogra case was not strong enough to be defended in court.
Evidence against Gilani
As per investigation ex-PM Gilani through a directive asked the then chairman of Ogra Tauqir Sadiq to allow relocation of Chaudhry CNG Station owned by Riaz Pirzada from Hasal Pur to Bahawalpur.
According to NAB’s dossier, the former PM is alleged to have a llowed relocation of 466 CNG stations against the Ogra regulations. He is also accused of illegally appointing Tauqir Sadiq as chairman Ogra.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2014.
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@imran ali:
Yousaf Raza will disagree with you because he calls himself a Saraiki and wants to separate from Punjab and form a separate province.
Anyhow, no person in power or with resources is ever found guilty.
Who is this Riaz Peerzada? Isn't he the one who was minister of the present chairman NAB in the PPP government? If so, then this is protecting Peerzada by NAB.
Is anybody ever found guilty of any fraud?
Considering NAB's credibility, its not surprising to read such news.
Our highly politicised NAB is doing an excellent job in removing all high profile personalities from the hook.