Shady deal: Police blacklist firm for giving them sub-standard weapons
The firm has been linked to the weapons scam involving former IGP Malik Naveed who was arrested in November last year.
Former inspector general police Malik Naveed. PHOTO: ENEWS
PESHAWAR:
The Khyber-Pakthunkhwa (K-P) police have blacklisted M/S Majeed and Sons, an arms and ammunition firm which won a government tender to provide the police with weapons for this year.
In a handout issued from the Central Police Office, it said the decision was taken after NAB arrested the owner of the firm and filed a reference against him for providing sub-standard weapons such as snipers, AK-47s, bullet proof helmets and jackets, night vision goggles to the police.
The tender, which was advertised in newspapers, was won by the firm. Their website claims the firm is a leading importer of firearms, ammunition and accessories in the country.
Talking business
The firm has been linked to the weapons scam worth billions of rupees involving former IGP Malik Naveed who was arrested in November last year.
Special Prosecutor Lajbar Khan told the court during Naveed’s tenure as the provincial police chief (from 2008-2010), a deal was signed with Zafar Azfar & Co to purchase weapons and other equipment at a cost of Rs490 million, but Naveed gave the contract to Majeed and Sons instead. Khan contended the move was illegal and there was embezzlement in awarding the contract.
A NAB official, requesting anonymity told The Express Tribune, during his tenure, Naveed had signed a deal worth a total of Rs930 million with a foreign company for purchase of arms, but later approved the amount to be paid to Majeed and Sons.
“The amount was paid for the purchase of light machine guns, bulletproof jackets and heavy weapons. The minimum bid for the purchase of an AK-47 was Rs13,960 but Naveed bought 23,000 guns at Rs19,650 apiece,” said the official.
On a request made by the police department, the K-P government had approved the purchase and upgrade of weapons and equipment for its use to counter the deteriorating law and order situation in the province. Over Rs7 billion was released by the government for said procurement in October 2008.
Despite offering to pay Rs80 million for his release, the former IG, Malik Naveed, is considered the primary accused in the case and remains in Central Prison Peshawar since his arrest late last year.
Bannu Development Authority
An allegedly fabricated contract on Wednesday sent former project director of the Bannu Development Authority (BDA), Mohibullah Khan, into custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for 14 days.
Khan allegedly awarded an illegal contact of a gas pipeline to Bannu Township without fulfilling formalities, causing a loss of Rs8.15 million to the public exchequer by paying a premium on non-scheduled items.
In a press release issued by NAB, during the investigations, it was revealed that Khan was in fact holding the post of project director (BPS-19) at the development authority.
The accused, with help from a former assistant director and contractors, Wakeel Khan and Tikka Khan, prepared fabricated documents to show that a tender scrutiny committee meeting was held and approved their contract, stated the dispatch.
A reference against the accused was filed by NAB’s Peshawar office. They were produced before the accountability court in the provincial capital on Wednesday by the bureau to obtain physical remand.
The others accused in the case, include former assistant director Shamsur Rehman and Wakeel Khan, a Sui Northern Gas Piplines Limited contractor. They have also been arrested and sent on physical remand.
In another case on Tuesday, NAB obtained a 10-day physical remand from the accountability court for Asif Haider Orakzai, a grade-19 officer from the income tax department of Peshawar and presently posted as the income tax commissioner in Abbottabad. They allege that Orakzai was involved in a fake income tax refund causing a loss of Rs160 million to the exchequer. Two others accused in the same case, Muhammad Siddique and Muhammad Haroon, who were FBR officials, were also sent into remand.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th, 2014.
The Khyber-Pakthunkhwa (K-P) police have blacklisted M/S Majeed and Sons, an arms and ammunition firm which won a government tender to provide the police with weapons for this year.
In a handout issued from the Central Police Office, it said the decision was taken after NAB arrested the owner of the firm and filed a reference against him for providing sub-standard weapons such as snipers, AK-47s, bullet proof helmets and jackets, night vision goggles to the police.
The tender, which was advertised in newspapers, was won by the firm. Their website claims the firm is a leading importer of firearms, ammunition and accessories in the country.
Talking business
The firm has been linked to the weapons scam worth billions of rupees involving former IGP Malik Naveed who was arrested in November last year.
Special Prosecutor Lajbar Khan told the court during Naveed’s tenure as the provincial police chief (from 2008-2010), a deal was signed with Zafar Azfar & Co to purchase weapons and other equipment at a cost of Rs490 million, but Naveed gave the contract to Majeed and Sons instead. Khan contended the move was illegal and there was embezzlement in awarding the contract.
A NAB official, requesting anonymity told The Express Tribune, during his tenure, Naveed had signed a deal worth a total of Rs930 million with a foreign company for purchase of arms, but later approved the amount to be paid to Majeed and Sons.
“The amount was paid for the purchase of light machine guns, bulletproof jackets and heavy weapons. The minimum bid for the purchase of an AK-47 was Rs13,960 but Naveed bought 23,000 guns at Rs19,650 apiece,” said the official.
On a request made by the police department, the K-P government had approved the purchase and upgrade of weapons and equipment for its use to counter the deteriorating law and order situation in the province. Over Rs7 billion was released by the government for said procurement in October 2008.
Despite offering to pay Rs80 million for his release, the former IG, Malik Naveed, is considered the primary accused in the case and remains in Central Prison Peshawar since his arrest late last year.
Bannu Development Authority
An allegedly fabricated contract on Wednesday sent former project director of the Bannu Development Authority (BDA), Mohibullah Khan, into custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for 14 days.
Khan allegedly awarded an illegal contact of a gas pipeline to Bannu Township without fulfilling formalities, causing a loss of Rs8.15 million to the public exchequer by paying a premium on non-scheduled items.
In a press release issued by NAB, during the investigations, it was revealed that Khan was in fact holding the post of project director (BPS-19) at the development authority.
The accused, with help from a former assistant director and contractors, Wakeel Khan and Tikka Khan, prepared fabricated documents to show that a tender scrutiny committee meeting was held and approved their contract, stated the dispatch.
A reference against the accused was filed by NAB’s Peshawar office. They were produced before the accountability court in the provincial capital on Wednesday by the bureau to obtain physical remand.
The others accused in the case, include former assistant director Shamsur Rehman and Wakeel Khan, a Sui Northern Gas Piplines Limited contractor. They have also been arrested and sent on physical remand.
In another case on Tuesday, NAB obtained a 10-day physical remand from the accountability court for Asif Haider Orakzai, a grade-19 officer from the income tax department of Peshawar and presently posted as the income tax commissioner in Abbottabad. They allege that Orakzai was involved in a fake income tax refund causing a loss of Rs160 million to the exchequer. Two others accused in the same case, Muhammad Siddique and Muhammad Haroon, who were FBR officials, were also sent into remand.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th, 2014.