NAB tightens noose around Pervez Ashraf

Tightening the noose around former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in the infamous Rental Power Projects (RPPs) case, the executive board meeting of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday authorised investigation into another two corruption cases.

A source in NAB informed Pakistan Today that of the total of 12 RPP cases, one reference had already been filed against Ashraf, while investigation into another three was almost complete.

“Around 70 percent of the investigation into the rest of the six cases has also been made and references will also be filed with the accountability courts once the investigation is finalised,” the source added.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of acting Chairman Rear Admiral (r) Saeed Ahmad Sargana at the NAB headquarters. Sargana has been authorised by NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry who has left for leave following the Supreme Court verdict in the NICL case.

The NAB meeting decided to authorise four investigations. The first investigation was authorised against officials and government functionaries in the RPP installed in Samundari, Faisalabad. Allegedly corruption has been committed and a loss of Rs 2.8 billion has been caused to the national exchequer.

The second investigation was authorised in Walters Power International Naudero-I, Larkana RPP case. The accused allegedly committed corruption causing a loss of $28.423 million to the national exchequer.

The third investigation was authorised against Shah Jehan Khetran, former MD Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), Saeed Abbas Ansari, GM Finance PTDC and Abdul Rasool Zaidi, Manager Accounts PTDC. In this case, the accused are allegedly involved in financial mismanagement, illegal recruitments and illegal leasing out of PTDC properties.

And, the fourth against Pakistan Railways Purchase Chief Controller Zahoor Khattak, Saeed Akhtar, former Pakistan Railways GM, Muhammad Naeem Malik, former GM Pakistan Railways, Sohail Sana Qazi, Deputy Chief Engineer Pakistan Steel Mills, Jawad Ahmad, Contractor Pakistan Steel Traders Lahore and Zeeshan Ahmad, Contractor Pakistan Steel Traders, Lahore. The accused committed corruption, causing loss of Rs 48.85 million to the national exchequer.

The board authorised three inquiries. The first against Shahid Hussain Asad, additional secretary Economic Affairs Division, and others for misuse of authority and granting illegal favour to M/s Pak Arab Fertilizers Ltd and M/s Fatima Fertilizers Ltd.

The accused allegedly reduced sales tax rates for these companies through issuing SROs and are accused for causing loss of Rs 1 billion to the national exchequer and case has been shifted to the NAB Punjab.

The second was against officers and officials of OGDCL, OGRA and others.

The accused exercised corruption in marketing, distribution and royalty of Hydrocarbon Products in KP and are accused of causing loss of Rs 375 million to the national exchequer. The Peshawar High Court in a suo motu case directed NAB and the FIA to probe this case.

The third case was against officers and officials of KP government for illegal reinstatement of a convicted person Zahid Arif, Communication and Works Department assistant director. The accused was involved in a corruption case and he paid Rs 17 million to NAB through plea bargain in year 2000.

In the board meeting, the acting chairman also authorised three complaint verifications (CVs). First complaint was against Dr Nazir Hussain, vice chancellor University of Sindh Jamshoro and its registrar Muhammad Nawaz Narejo. Both are accused for misuse of authority and embezzlement of government funds amounting to Rs 9.6 million.

The second complaint was against officers and officials of Labour and Workers Welfare Board Balochistan. The accused are suspected of alleged corruption and corrupt practices, causing loss of Rs 8 million to the national exchequer.

Third complaint was against officers and officials of Food Department, Quetta and others. The accused are suspected of corruption and corrupt practices.