Forex scam: Senator Waqar named in NAB report

Officials appear before NAB to respond to charges of misappropriating Rs1b worth of commercial property.

LAHORE: The Federal Minister for Privatisation, Senator Waqar Ahmad Khan, former IG Punjab Azhar Hassan Nadeem, former provincial minister Tikka Iqbal, Superintendent Police Mukhtar Tikka and nine associates appeared before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to respond to charges of misappropriating Rs1 billion worth of commercial property in the Rs1.38 billion-forex scam.

The property, Qasr-e-Zauq, auctioned by the NAB Punjab, was transferred in the name of Senator Ammar Ahmad Khan, Senator Waqar’s brother, with Justice (Retired) Malik Qayum’s collaboration, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The NAB investigation officer recorded the statements of 13 individuals involved in annexing their property on Thursday and has summoned them again on January 4 and 5, 2011.

Two lawyers engaged by Qayyum appeared before the investigation officer on his behalf. NAB, however, demanded that Qayum’s counsel ensure that the former attorney general appears in person.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2010.