Guddu plant case: Reference filed against two ex-aides, 11 others

Loss of more than Rs139 million caused by corrupt practices.

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed a reference over the Guddu rental power plant case in the Accountability Court in Islamabad.

NAB’s executive board meeting (EBM), presided by the graft watchdog’s chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, has approved the filing of a reference in this case, The Express Tribune has learnt.

According to NAB officials, the reference has been filed against 13 accused persons, including two former federal secretaries Ismail Qureshi and Shahid Rafi. Others accused include two former managing directors of Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) Munawar Baseer and Tahir Basharat Cheema, ex-senior GM Pepco Arshad Raza and ex-executive director Pepco Aftab Mehmood Butt.

The accused persons allegedly misused their authority and engaged in corrupt practices in the Guddu Rental Power Plant project, which was initiated without the approval of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC).

Additionally, the accused extended undue and illegal benefit to the sponsors of M/s Pakistan Power Resources (PPR). A contract of $72 million was awarded to PPR in violation of PPRA rules, the Nepra Act and without any feasibility study or approval by the government.

The accused reportedly caused a loss of Rs139.149 million to the national exchequer, NAB officials told The Express Tribune.

Following the directions of the Supreme Court in its judgment dated 30th March 2012, the NAB chairman authorised an inquiry on 2nd April 2012 against the holders of public office and others under the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999 for their involvement in corruption and corrupt practices while awarding and executing 12 Rental Power Projects (RPPs) including Guddu RPP.

On November 23, 2012, the inquiry was completed and converted into an investigation, NAB officials said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2014.