Ex-secretary reveals stories of 'Gilani's massive corruption'

Muhammad Zubair tells FIA ex-EOBI chairman, ex-OGDCL MD among those who bribed former PM

Yousaf Raza Gilani’s ex-secretary has revealed a series of allegations regarding the former prime minister’s massive corruption cases, Express News reported on Sunday.

According to reports, while in custody of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), former PM House deputy secretary Muhammad Zubair Ahmed informed the investigators that Ayaz Khan Niazi, who is an accused in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) scandal, used to bear all the expenses of the Gilani House in Lahore.

Read: Court issues arrest warrants for former PM Gilani, Amin Fahim

“In 2010, Niazi handed me a bag full of currency notes in the PM House,” Ahmed told the investigators.

He further revealed that the former Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government awarded some Karachi-based traders Sitara-e-Imtiaz, the fourth-highest decoration given to any civilian in the country based on one’s extraordinary achievement, in exchange of heavy bribes.

“Traders, including Atif Suleman and Shaikh Ayub, bribed the former prime minister to have their ‘tasks’ done,” he said, adding Shaikh Ayub owned the Land Cruiser being used by Gilani.

Ahmed further informed the FIA that former federal minister for trade Nazar Gondal and Employees Old Age Benefit Institution (EOBI) ex-chairman were among those who bribed the former prime minister. Adnan Khwaja, ex-MD Oil & Gas Development Company Ltd (OGDCL), too, sent Rs50 million to the PM House.

He also alleged that Nargis Sethi, then-secretary to the prime minister who was later made secretary for water and power ministry, was involved in several cases of corruption.

Ahmed had been a close aide to Gilani as he looked after his bank accounts and other financial matters during his term as National Assembly speaker and later as prime minister of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the FIA has prepared an investigation report against Gilani and has decided to open 12 fresh inquiries against him.

Read: Missing necklace: FIA told to register case against ex-PM Gilani, wife

An anti-corruption court (ATC) in Karachi had recently issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of PPP leaders Gilani and Makhdoom Amin Fahim. The order was issued after the FIA presented a final charge sheet with 12 new cases registered against the PPP leaders before the court.