National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Admiral (r) Fasih Bokhari has decided not to take up the case of real estate tycoon Malik Riaz and the Dr Arsalan Iftikhar case on the pretext that a dispute between two individuals did not come in the purview of NAB ordinance.
In a statement issued here on Thursday, the NAB chairman said the Arsalan Iftikhar case was a case between two individuals and had no financial implications on the national exchequer. “It seems that it does not come under the NAB Ordinance. Anyhow, he ordered his legal team to look into the matter in case of registration of a complaint with NAB the case will be dealt on merit under the provisions of NAO 1999”.
In the Qasr-e-Zauq case, NAB exercised its powers under Section 12C of NAO appointing the Lahore DCO ‘receiver’ with the direction to take over the possession of property No 1-E-III, Gulburg-III, Lahore (Qasr-e-Zauq) immediately in order to secure the public interest.
The NAB chairman also directed to the Lahore DCO to fulfill all legal formalities with the required actions for example preparation of inventory of all items in the presence of present owners or their authorised representatives, to ensure proper maintenance of all accounts of income derived from the property, to remit the revenue generated in the name of the NAB chairman under a proper bank receipt and record and submission of weekly progress report for record and reconciliation of income/expenditure derived from said property. He also directed the Lahore DCO to furnish the compliance report by tomorrow June 15 positively.
In the instant, the NAB filed a reference against Sheikh Muhammad Ayub and Mohsin Ayub which is pending before the accountability court in Lahore.
The accused had cheated the public and embezzled a large amount belonging to the general public.
The accused were asked to pay the whole liability of around Rs 600 million by June 15, otherwise all the accused persons will be arrested/prosecuted under the law. NAB spokesman Zafar Iqbal Khan while responding to the question on the issue of Arsalan Iftikhar case, said the NAB had never showed keenness for the case.
“But in case of registration of a complaint, NAB will take action under its law and the case will be dealt on merit,” said the spokesman, adding that NAB law would adhere to its law vis-à-vis Arsalan Iftikhar case.
To another question regarding the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) land scam, the spokesman said NAB was an independent organisation and it will act under the provisions of National Accountability Ordinance. He said NAB’s investigation teams would make all efforts to remain transparent so as to avoid any influence whatsoever, either from the government or from any other institution.
