Politicians, civil servants come under NAB radar

Corruption watchdog to file reference, conduct inquiries against several officials.

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to file a reference against Badil Jamil Mandro, ex-secretary Sindh Minorities Affairs Department and his accomplices in a case of corrupt practices.

The accused persons were alleged for misuse of authority by making illegal appointments in grade-17 and grade-18 in the minorities’ affairs department, causing a loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer.

The executive board meeting was chaired by NAB chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry on Monday.

The meeting authorised a complaint verification against Haji Muhammad Nawaz Kakar, ex-minister Balochistan Development Authority (BDA) and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for receiving kickbacks from the contractors of BDA and conducting illegal bank transactions.

The meeting also decided to re-authorise two inquiries. The first inquiry was re-authorised against officials of Galiyat Development Authority (GDA), Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa namely Sardar Muhammad Idrees, former minister and other beneficiaries. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for corruption, corrupt practices in allotment of plots in GDA, causing a loss of Rs51.756 million to the national exchequer.

The second inquiry was re-authorised against officers of Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco), owners of al Moiz Sugar Mill, Dera Ismail Khan and others namely Munawar Baseer Ahmad, ex-MD Pepco; Brig (retd) Sakhi Marjan, former head of Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco); and Nouman Ahmad Khan, managing director al Moiz Industry.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for misuse of authority, corruption in illegal sale and purchase of electricity.

The meeting also decided to approve a voluntarily return request of Arbab Saadullah Khan, former MNA, of Rs8,471,780 regarding embezzlement of government funds in plots scam of fruit and vegetable market in Peshawar. Out of total loss of Rs130 million to the state, Rs120.5 million stands recovered.

The meeting decided to close a complaint verification against Ali Madad Jattak, ex-minister Food Department of Balochistan.

Regarding a complaint against unlawful conversion of KASB Bank Ltd into BankIslami Pakistan Ltd, the meeting decided to link the request with a case with the ongoing inquiry in NAB Karachi.

Moreover, the meeting also decided to authorise an inquiry against Zahid Traders for willful default of Rs281.574 million referred by the State Bank of Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2015.