NAB submits 150 mega corruption cases’ list to SC

• The list includes cases against high profile figures, including incumbent Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, former premiers, ministers and top bureaucrats

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday submitted a report containing the details of 150 mega corruption cases before a three-member Supreme Court (SC) bench, headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, hearing a case filed by Manzoor Ahmed Ghauri against NAB chairman and other officials.

The case, initiated earlier this year, pertains to scrutiny of the anti-corruption body.

The list includes cases against high profile figures, including incumbent Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, former premiers, ministers and top bureaucrats.

The document also lists 50 cases each of monitory irregularities, misuse of powers and land scams.

The report shows that among the monitory irregularities, enquiries are being conducted in 22 cases, with investigations launched into 13 cases and references in 15 cases.

Similarly, in land scams, 29 cases are under enquiry, investigations are underway in 13 cases while references have been filed in eight cases.

Enquiries are underway in 20 cases of abuse of power, while investigations into 15 cases have kicked off and references have been filed in 15 cases.

The report reveals that an enquiry is being carried out against the incumbent prime minister and his brother in a case pertaining to construction of a road from Raiwind to Sharif family House worth Rs 126 million.

According to the report, a scam worth Rs 700 million against Ghazi Akhtar of Tandiyanwala Sugar Mills is being enquired by NAB.

Enquiries are also underway against former National Insurance Company Limited (NICL) chairman Ayaz Khan Niazi over embezzlement charges worth Rs 2 billion and another former NICL chairman Abid Jawed over a potential scam worth Rs 2 billion, besides some other figures.

Moreover, investigations have already been launched against Schon group for alleged embezzlement of Rs 1,245 billion, Younus Habib for an alleged ill-intentioned default of Rs 3 billion, former Balochistan chief minister Nawab Aslam Raisani for possessing Rs 100 million in assets beyond resources case.

A similar enquiry is under process against former premier Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in an asset beyond resources case worth Rs 2,428 billion. A case of the same nature was also filed against the sitting Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. He is under enquiry for three cases of 23 million pounds, $3,488 million and $1,250 million.

Furthermore, Hussain Haqqani, former information secretary and ambassador to US, is accused of embezzling funds. However, NAB has so far failed to calculate the amount in this regard. He was also accused of issuing licenses of FM stations to three private companies.

Former interior minister Aftab Sherpao is also facing an enquiry for having assets beyond resources while former premier Raja Pervaiz Ashraf is also being probed in the rental power plants (RPP) case.

A case was also being heard against former president Asif Ali Zardari for having assets beyond resources. Investigations are in process against Zardari for corruption of $22 billion and $1.5 billion.

The court on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction over the report submitted by NAB, saying that the anti-graft body should add two more columns on details of the dates as to when the application against an individual was filed and when it was verified.

The report was submitted before the apex court after the bench expressed disappointment over what they said was an extreme form of maladministration in the bureau earlier this year.

Staff officers to NAB DG Brigadier Nasir, NAB Additional Attorney General Tariq Tarrar and NAB Prosecutor General Waqas Qadeer submitted the document in the court.