Mine games: Ziaullah Afridi booked in yet another scam

PESHAWAR:

With the three-day physical custody of former minister for mines and minerals Ziaullah Afridi coming to an end on Friday (today), it seems he will not be a free man any sooner. The Ehtesab Commission has booked the former minister in yet another mining scam.

According to a handout issued by the commission, the accused, as mines and mineral minister, used his position to influence the members of mining committee to process and give favours in the renewal and assignment of Chromite Tangi mines from Muhammad Ayaz to Jalal Khattak against the Mining Concession Rules 2005.

The document added the mines were supposed to be auctioned and the previous contract was not meant to be renewed.

“The total loss to the provincial exchequer was estimated at Rs3 billion,” read the statement.

Ziaullah was also presented before the court of judge Hayat Ali Shah on Thursday to obtain a one-day physical custody. Additional Deputy Prosecutor General Qazi Babar Irshad informed the court the accused is already charged in two cases related to illegal mining in Nowshera and appointments and transfers in the mining department, adding he was also booked in another case related to illegal mining in Tangi, Charsadda. He said the commission is investigating the matter for which physical custody is required. After hearing the arguments, the court approved a one-day physical custody of the accused and directed the commission to produce him again on Friday (today).

On the other hand, the Peshawar High Court did not hear Ziaullah’s case. He had prayed the court to release him on bail in two illegal mining and appointments cases.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2015.