- Accountability watchdog arrests former KPT chairman over graft
ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal has sought a report from NAB Balochistan director general over alleged illegal allotment of commercial and industrial land allotted in Gwadar Industrial Estate Development Authority (GIEDA) in violations of rules, causing billions in losses to the Balochistan government.
The chairman took notice of the issued after reports of private individuals being allotted 3,167 acres of state land worth Rs70 billion in the port city. The alleged illegal allotment of put the development of Balochistan at stake and instead of being an industrial development authority, GIEDA turned into an estate agency.
During the initial scrutiny of the record, it emerged that the rules had totally been ignored by GIEDA while allotting the plots, which were distributed among favourites and relatives with the help of facilitators. Furthermore, the files of industrial plots were also sold on the basis of personal likes and dislikes, by rejecting the applications of eligible industrialists and potential investors.
After the scam was exposed, however, the land was restored in favour of Balochistan government.
The NAB chairman has sought the report within 15 days.
Moreover, NAB Balochistan has filed a reference against former excise and taxation DG Dr Mohammad Qasim Baloch, and former Assitant Excise and Taxation Officer (AETO) Abdul Bashir Baloch on the allegation of misuse of authority and embezzlement of Rs15 million.
According to reports, Dr Qasim Baloch illegally posted Abdul Bashir as ETO non-commercial, who registered approximately 800 non-custom paid vehicles and obtained illegal gratification in return. The illegal acts of both the accused caused a loss of Rs15 million to the national exchequer.
NAB has filed reference in the accountability court while the assets and bank accounts of the accused are also being checked by the investigating team and further probe is underway.