Graft allegations: Top court rejects NAB plea against contractor

NAB files plea against a Sindh High Court ruling ordering removal of the contractor's name from the ECL

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court has rejected the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) plea to bar a private contractor allegedly involved in corruption in a Turkish government project from travelling overseas.

The three-member bench was hearing the NAB plea against a Sindh High Court ruling on May 12, ordering the removal of contractor Masood Hussain Shah’s name from the ECL. In its application, NAB said  Shah has been summoned twice in the pending inquiry regarding the allegations against him that he had fraudulently applied and availed duties and tax exemptions causing huge loss worth Rs29 million to the national exchequer.

Babar Awan, counsel for contractor, told the bench hat in order to help the flood victims of 2010 the Turkish government granted funds for construction of 4,620 housing units. “The main contract was awarded to Siyhakalem Muhendisilk Insaat Sanayi Tiraret. The company gave a sub-contract to Shah’s company for the construction of 2,000 houses.”

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