Weapons scam: Another accused arrested

PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has arrested one Akhtar Muhammad from Rawalpindi for allegedly taking a Rs34.5 million bribe from contractor Arshad Majeed. Muhammad reportedly promised to use his contacts in NAB to close the infamous K-P police weapons enquiry. Ex-IGP Malik Naveed, former chief minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti’s brother Ghazan Hoti and Ghazan’s brother-in-law Raza Ali Khan are already behind bars in the same case. Muhammad was wanted by NAB, but he had gone into hiding after sensing the gravity of the situation. The accused will be produced before the Accountability Court Peshawar for obtaining his physical remand. NAB K-P has filed a formal reference of Rs2.03 billion against the ex-IGP  and nine others, including senior serving and retired police officers. They are allegedly involved in embezzlement while approving the contract for procuring weapons and other equipment for the police in 2008-10.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2014.