NAB all set to start purge against corrupt individuals

• Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif in crosshair along with Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) of National Accountability Bureau (NAB), chaired by Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal on Wednesday, accorded approval to file six references, four inquiries and eleven investigations against various individuals.
Approval was accorded to file a reference against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and incumbent Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif for allegedly constructing, illegally, a two-lane road from Raiwind to Sharif Family’s residence, and inflicting Rs125 million to the national exchequer.

The board accorded approval to conduct investigations against former minister Dr Baber Awan, former minister for water and power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, former law and justice secretary Masood Chishti, former secretary Shahid Rafi and former director Ejaz Bashir for causing Rs113 billion losses due to delay in Nandipur project.

The board directed to file a reference against former Pakistan Tobacco Board chairman Sahibzada Khalid. The accused had inflicted millions of rupees in the illegal employment case.

Another reference would be filed against former chairman of Evacuee Trust Property Board Asif Hashmi for abuse of authority and allotting 450 plots, thus causing billions of rupee loss to the exchequer. A reference would also be filed against Former Sindh labour secretary Nasr Hayat and others for buying two hundred acre land on high rates, thus inflicting Rs275.4 million losses to the exchequer.

The board approved filing reference against former WAPDA chairman Tariq Hameed and others for abuse of authority.  The accused had accorded approval to a 136MW rental power project in violation of PPRA rules.

The investigation would also be conducted against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister’s former advisor Sikander Aziz as well as against officials of rehabilitation department for grabbing government land at Shooba Bazaar Peshawar. It was also approved to start the investigation against former Baluchistan chief minister over allegations of receiving compensation of Rs1817 million from the Baluchistan government, which he distributed among his relatives.

The meeting also gave the approval to initiate the investigation against former Baluchistan Workers Welfare Fund secretary Mumtaz Ali Khan over misuse of power, corruption and purchasing sub-standard equipment for kidney centre in Quetta, due to which loss of billions of rupees was faced.

Nod was also given to start investigation against former Member National Assembly (MNA) Ghulam Haider Thind, former Dera Ghazi Khan commissioner Fiaz Bashir, and officials of the revenue department for bringing loss of Rs600 million to national kitty and also for misuse of power.

The meeting approved to start an investigation against former MNA from NA-176 Sultan Mehmud Hinjra and others over misuse of power and illegal allotment of government land. It was also approved to start an investigation against Pakistan Messers T&N Private Limited Faisalabad Director Riaz Ahmed Chawla and others over allegations of bank default of Bank of Punjab, and not returning Rs1539 million to the bank.

The meeting further approved to start investigation against former prime minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani and others over allegations of appointing Syndic Metals Limited Managing Director Muhammad Razzaq Sanjrani in violation of the law and bringing financial loss of Rs17.70 million.

An investigation against former minister for communications Dr Arbab Alamgir, and former MNA Asma Arbab, for having more assets beyond sources of income were also approved.

Furthermore, the meeting also decided to start investigation against former KP local bodies secretary and incumbent FBR Department of Revenue Additional Secretary Hamad Owais Agha, former KP local bodies secretary and sitting Frontier Education Foundation Managing Director Hifzur Rehman, officials of KP local bodies department, and chief executive officer, as well as officers, of Messers Ideal Hydro-Tech System Private Limited.

They have been facing allegations of embezzlement in the installation of 1,159 water filtration plants in the project of water for all in KP, bringing a financial loss of Rs800 million.

Moreover, the meeting approved to file reference of corruption against former Federal Urdu University vice-chancellor Dr Zafar Iqbal, who is accused of misuse of authority and embezzlement in government funds, bringing a loss of Rs102.24 million.

It was also directed to hold an inquiry against Nadeem Zia Pirzada, Shama Nadeem, Razia Perveen, Saadi Perveen, Muneer Zia, Umer Zia, Khalid Hussain and Sajid Hussain. They have been alleged of transactions of a suspected amount and the matter was referred by State Bank of Pakistan to NAB.

It was also approved to hold an inquiry against Nadeem Ahmed over the allegation of a transaction of suspected amount.

The meeting approved to hold an inquiry against the officials of Karachi Revenue Department, and also against Summit Bank Ltd Chairman Nisar Lotha. They have been accused of illegal allotment of 5,222 acres of official land.

Over misuse of power and brining loss of Rs103.5 million to national kitty, the meeting approved to conduct an inquiry against former KASB Bank CEO Nasir Ali Shah Bukhari and others. It also directed for investigation against former NICL chairman Ayaz Khan Niazi and others.

The NAB chairman ordered to complete all the inquiries and investigations at the earliest as per law, and no case should be delayed for an indefinite period.