NAB files reference against former PM Raja Pervez Ashraf

Reference filed for Ashraf's recruitment of son-in-law in the WB in violation of rules and misusing authority as PM

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday filed a reference against former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf for appointing his son-in-law Azeemul Haq in the World Bank by violating rules and regulations and misusing his authority as prime minister.

The decision was taken during an executive board meeting (EBM) chaired by NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry.

The executive board decided to file corruption references in the concerned Accountability Courts.

The board also decided to file a reference against Ex-Chairman Employees Old Age Benefits Institute (EOBI), Zafar Iqbal Gondal and others. In this case, the accused allegedly made illegal appointments during their tenure and caused the national exchequer a loss of Rs600 million.

The board decided to file a reference against Ex-Acting Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Works Mola Bux Awan, and Director General Pak PWD Gulab Zameer. In this case, the accused allegedly appointed 746 people in violation of rules and regulations which caused a loss of Rs6.32 million to the national exchequer.

The board in a case against Nasir Muhammad Ashraf, Director Harith General Trading LLC Dubai, Aamir Saleem Anwar Khan Chief Executive Chimera Pvt Ltd, Tahir Saleem Anwar Khan, Director Chimera Pvt Ltd and Nasir Saleem Khan Chimera Pvt Ltd decided to further investigate the matter as a loss of Rs1.3 billion has been caused to banks. It was directed to complete the investigation within four weeks.

The executive board authorised an inquiry against Managing Director (MD) and the management of Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation Limited (PASSCO). In this case the accused persons are alleged for illegal recruitment in PASSCO during the interim period, May-June 2013. They are also accused of leaking examination papers, recruitment tests.

In a case against Senator Sehar Kamran regarding alleged corruption, the misuse of authority and embezzlement of school funds collected from the students in the form of fees at the Pakistan International School Jeddah, NAB will initiate an inquiry.

The board decided to probe into the matter in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis through their Welfare Attaches. A huge embezzlement in school fees has been reported in this case.

In a case against China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd (CHCES), the board granted four more weeks to NAB Sindh for further inquiry into the matter.

In this case the suspects are accused of Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) on different dates to the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) Government of Pakistan under AML Act 2010 against their customers who were maintaining bank accounts at different branches.