Weapons scam: Ex-IGP remanded for another 14 days

IGP Malik Naveed accused of embezzling Rs360 million during 2008-10.

PESHAWAR: An accountability court on Thursday extended former IGP Malik Naveed’s judicial remand for another 14 days in the Rs7 billion weapons and equipment scam. Naveed was presented before Judge Wilayat Ali Khan amid tight security for the extension of his remand. He has been accused of embezzling Rs360 million during 2008-10.  The former IGP was sent to Central Jail Peshawar on January 15 after spending 56 days in the custody of National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chapter. Former chief minister (CM) Amir Haider Hoti was summoned by the NAB on Wednesday in the same case and will be questioned today (Friday). According to a NAB official, weapons and procurement’ contracts were given when Hoti was the CM. Raza Ali Khan was also arrested on January 6 and has been accused of taking Rs3 million for himself and Rs195 million for Ghazan Hoti, brother of Amir Hoti. Raza Ali was considered to be the front man for the contract and was staying at the CM house at the time. He is also currently in Central Jail Peshawar and will also be produced before the accountability court on Friday.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2014.