NAB authorises inquiry against key officials

Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry reiterates resolve to eradicate corruption.

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) of NAB was held under the chairmanship of Qamar Zaman Chaudhry at NAB headquarters.

The EBM decided to authorise two inquiries. First inquiry was authorised against Nawab Aslam Khan Raisani, ex-chief minister Balochistan. The accused allegedly misused his authority by illegally appointing three Naib Tehsildars in violation of prescribed rules/law.

The second inquiry was authorized against Khuram Iftikhar, CEO of M/s AMTEX Ltd, Shama Pvt. Ltd & Amfort Pvt. Ltd and Ex-Director of Bank of Punjab (BOP). He is accused of obtaining loans from the Bank of Punjab in the name of Amtex, Shama & Amfort group while being Director of BOP. This was in sheer violation of Sec 19(4) of the BOP Act 1989. He stands accused of causing a loss of Rs6,139 million to the national exchequer.

The EBM directed DG NAB (R) to further investigate officials of Federal Employees Benevolent & Group Insurance Fund. They stand accused of investing an amount of Rs738 million in purchase of TFCs of Azgard-9 and its subsidiary Agritech Ltd in 2010.  This was done despite poor financial health indicators of the companies.

An inquiry was also authorised for complaint verification against Pir Mazhar ul Haq, former Sindh education minister, for allegedly making illegal/ghost appointment of teachers and receiving bribes. The committee decided to authorise complaint verification against Syed Ali Mardan Shah, ex-minister for population, Sindh for alleged misuse of authority and embezzlement of public funds.

In Investigations against authorities of Prison & Home Department Quetta, Akbar Durrani and Bashir Bangalzai, the EBM decided not to take any further action. This was done due to a lack of incriminating evidence.

The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) of NAB also decided to close inquiries against Sardar Yaqoob Khan Nasir, ex-federal minister, and officials of Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan (USC). Investigation against Ayaz Khan Mandokhail, CEO, M/S Ayaz Builders, Parliamentarians Enclave Housing Scheme, Islamabad under section 9-C of NAO-1999 was also closed.  The EBM also decided no further action on Complaint Verification was needed against Dr. Sohail Naqvi, Ex-Executive Director of Higher Education Commission (HEC).

At the end Chairman NAB reiterated his firm resolve to eradicate corruption and corrupt practices by adopting holistic and proactive approach. He emphasized upon all staff members of NAB to put in efforts to arrest the corrupt persons by utilising all resources. He directed all NAB officials to put in maximum effort to conduct transparent complaint verifications, inquiries and investigations in accordance with the laid-down SOPs.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2015.