At the time when the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided in principle to file a reference in the Rs16 billion DHA City (Lahore) scam against prime accused Hammad Arshad who is stated to be a relative of a former chief justice of Pakistan but a a plea bargain with Kamran Kayani, a brother of former army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, is under process in the case.
According to reports, the NAB is in contact with Mr Kayani, pressing him to either pay about Rs4bn owed by him or face legal proceedings. He is currently abroad.
“The bureau (NAB) is in no hurry to bring Mr Kayani back to the country through Interpol, to make him part of the investigations. Rather it is offering him a last chance to settle the issue through a plea bargain,” the reports said.
The Bureau has decided to file reference against Hammad Arshad.
A spokesman for NAB Lahore told reporters: “Investigations against Kamran Kayani have been in the final stage. NAB is not in contact with him to strike a plea bargain. However, under the law Mr Kayani can opt for a plea bargain.”
When asked why legal proceedings had not been started against Mr Kayani despite passage of at least four months, particularly when a plea bargain was not being negotiated with him, the spokesman said: “NAB served summons on him and will decide whether or not to proceed against him after completing the investigations against him.”
He said NAB had decided in principle to file a reference against Mr Arshad.
About four months ago, NAB Lahore sent a summons for Mr Kayani to his residence in the country but his family members refused to accept it. The reminders met the same fate.
NAB then said that if Mr Kayani avoided appearing before its officials it would write to the interior ministry to get a red warrant issued against him through Interpol and he would be brought back to Pakistan.
In the first week of January this year, NAB arrested Mr Arshad, the owner of the Globaco (Pvt) Ltd. The Defence Housing Authority declared Mr Kayani’s firm, Elysium Holdings Pakistan, co-accused in the scam.
According to NAB, Globaco signed an agreement with DHA EME in Nov 2009, agreeing to develop the DHA City Lahore on a tract of land measuring 25,000 kanals near Thokhar Niaz Baig.
Mr Arshad collected Rs15.47bn from the public by issuing allotment letters and later transferred the money to his personal accounts. The accused used the funds for personal gains and invested them in other business ventures.
NAB said that because no meaningful development work was undertaken in the DHA City, the accused cheated the general public and the families of soldiers and martyrs by depriving them of their hard-earned money.
Of the amount received by the main accused from the public, he spent only Rs1.82bn to acquire the 13,103 kanals.
Mr Arshad and project director of the DHA City Lahore, retired Brig Khalid Nazir Butt, are in judicial custody.
Any clue what is going to happen to the poor investors?
Rich persons looted poor peoples, God will them in to Justice.
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