NAB to file corruption reference against former PM Ashraf, others

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday decided to file a corruption reference against former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in a case pertaining to rental power project (RPPs) Naudero-I.

A reference in this case will also be filed against former secretary water and power Fayyaz Elahi, former managing director Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) Fayyaz Ahmed Khan and former-managing director of Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) Tahir Basharat Cheema. According to a statement issued by the NAB, the accused allegedly awarded RPP contracts of 51 megawatts without open competitive bidding in violation of RRP rules, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) Act and Rental Services Contract (RSC) to favour sponsors at the cost of state exchequer.

SIX ENQUIRIES ORDERED:

The NAB Executive Board meeting also decided to authorise six other enquiries, first of which will be against Sindh Chief Secretary Siddique Memon along with other officers from Sindh’s Board of Revenue. The accused allegedly carried out fake allotment of six acres of land in Deh Bitti Aamri and Scheme-33 in Karachi by tampering with documents. This led to a loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer. The second enquiry was authorised against Punjab Irrigation Department’s former executive engineer from Upper Jhelum Canal Haroon Khan. The enquiry will probe alleged misappropriation and corruption of millions of rupees in remodeling of Kalra drain in Dera Munawar, construction of Chakori, Bahri Randyali and Lala Musa flood bunds. The accused allegedly covered up misappropriation of old development works and awarded tenders on high rates to his contractors in violation of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules without public auctions.

A third enquiry was authorised against President of Punjab Provincial Cooperative Bank Liaqat Durrani and others for alleged corrupt practices, misuse of authority and loan default which led to a loss of Rs 860 million to the national exchequer. The fourth enquiry was authorised against a businessman named Faisal Masroor Siddiqui who allegedly acquired government land illegally through bribes, causing a loss of millions to the national exchequer. Meanwhile an enquiry was also authorised against former chairman of Association of Builders and Developers (Abad) Babar Chugtai who also allegedly acquired government land through bribe, misused authority had accumulated assets. The final enquiry was authorised against Riffat Yazdan Siddiqui of M-Cube Pvt Limit for allegedly carrying out a willful default of Rs 71,335 million.

During the EBM it was also decided to authorise a complaint verification against Sindh Minister of National Assembly (MNA) Mir Munawar Talpur, for alleged misappropriation of public funds and misuse of authority. Moreover, it was decided during the meeting to close two investigations, one of which were against former chief minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and sitting MNA Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao was closed due to lack of incriminating evidence. Another investigation was against former chairman Allied Commercial Cooperative Corporation Limited Adil Javed Mansoor (ACCCL) and others, it was decided that the matter be sent to Punjab Cooperative Board for liquidation of his property.

The EBM also decided to close an inquiry against the management of Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and others regarding violation of PPRA rules. The rules were violated by awarding a procurement contract to M/S Bellelli, SPA, Italy. A complaint verification against former provincial minister Balochistan Sardar Fateh Ali Umrani was also closed due to lack of incriminating evidence.