–Fazlur Rehman, Akram Khan Durrani could be summoned if evidence found against them: NAB sources
ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has formally started verifying a complaint against JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and former chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Akram Khan Durrani for allegedly allocating 1,200 kanal of martyrs’ land in Dera Ismail Khan illegally to themselves during the regime of former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf.
The development came after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) demanded of the NAB to clear its position regarding the inquiry. A day earlier, the PTI had asked the bureau to explain its position on an inquiry of the 1,200 kanal of martyrs’ land allocated to JUI-F chief and former KP CM.
However, well-placed sources in the NAB told Pakistan Today that the anti-graft watchdog had formally started to verify the complaint against the religious figures, and an investigation officer was deputed to verify the data in this regard.
“All the relevant information and data is being verified by the relevant investigation officer and the verification matter would be placed before the board meeting later on,” said sources close to the investigation.
The sources said that if the NAB felt any weight in the document then it would not hesitate to summon Fazl and Durrani in personal capacity.
At this stage, it is premature to say that NAB would summons both the religious leaders in the next couple of weeks, said the sources.
According to the sources, after the PTI’s demand, the bureau did not give the impression that it had been taking action against a particular party such that the bureau would first finalise the case.
On Tuesday, NAB said in a press release that legal action would be taken against the suspects involved in the case.
The anti-corruption cell of PTI alleged that the NAB stopped its investigation in 2015 because JUI-F became a coalition partner of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N). According to the complaint, both the religious leaders allegedly got allotted 600 kanal illegally through benami transaction.
It should be noted that JUI-F became a coalition partner of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in 2008 and then of Pakistan Muslim League PML-N in 2013.
It is said by the critics that JUI-F chief had always bargained with those in power in the centre. Currently, it has made an alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami to revive Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) for its election campaign.
