Chaired by Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, the meeting was held at NAB Headquarters in Islamabad. PHOTO: www.pid.gov.pk
The executive board meeting of the National Accountability Board decided in favour of authorising five separate inquiries including against former provincial minister Ahsan Shah and former Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) chairperson Asif Hashmi.
Chaired by Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, the meeting was held at NAB Headquarters in Islamabad, said a press release issued on Saturday.
The board decided to authorise an inquiry against former Balochistan Industries and Commerce minister Ahsan Shah. The former minister is accused of misusing his authority in 2012 by appointing 888 officials in BPS 1 through 15 in the provincial Industries and Commerce Department.
An inquiry was authorised against Hashmi as well as the ETPB management. The former ETPB chairperson is accused of criminal breach of trust and misuse of authority for selling trust property on Railway Road, Lahore in a non-transparent manner, causing a loss of Rs300 million to the national exchequer, according to the press release.
The board also authorised an inquiry against Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) CEO Arif Allaudin. The chief executive officer is accused of involvement in corrupt practices and misuse of authority during his tenure.
The NAB board also approved conducting an inquiry against Divine Developers (CEO) Amjad Aziz and others. The chief executive officer is accused of various corrupt practices. Aziz is accused of causing loss of Rs313.308 million to the national exchequer through dishonest conversion and misappropriation of money received from the Saudi-Pak Company for purchase of land.
The NAB board also authorised inquiry against Mian Muhammad Latif, CEO and others of Chenab Group of Companies. Latif is accused of obtaining a loan of Rs1.27 billion from the Bank of Punjab (BoP) in the name of the company at a time when he was also director of the BOP, which would violate the BoP Act.
The board also decided to close three separate inquiries in cases involving the CDA’s alleged illegal investment in the stock exchange and mutual funds, Muhammad Azam Khan of the Standard Chartered Bank, Karachi, and former Balochistan provincial minister Sardar Saleh Mohammad Bhotani due to lack of incriminating evidence.
The executive board meeting also decided to file a supplementary corruption reference against Tawana Pakistan Project Director Irfanullah Khan.
Khan is accused of corruption and corrupt practices, illegal gratification, and misuse of authority in connivance with others that caused a loss of Rs164.796 million to the national exchequer, along with a further loss of Rs5.28 million, by not deducting compulsory income tax.
NAB Chairperson Chaudhry reiterated his resolve to eradicate corruption and corrupt practices by adopting a holistic and proactive approach through enforcement, besides awareness and prevention strategy.
He emphasised on all NAB staffers to make every effort to arrest the corrupt, proclaimed offenders and absconders.
Chaudhry directed all NAB officials to put their best efforts in conduct of complaint verifications, inquiries and investigations against corrupt individuals in accordance with the laws.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 7th, 2015.
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