No election candidate to be arrested until July 25 polls, NAB decides

–NAB authorises inquiries against Ahad Cheema, others

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Wednesday decided that election candidates undergoing an investigation by the bureau will not be arrested until general elections on July 25.

The anti-corruption body said that suspects, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders, are accused of causing damage of Rs19 billion to a national project.

The NAB said it has taken a detailed look into the cases against the PML-N leaders including the cases against former foreign minister Khawaja Asif. The cases against Asif, Rana Afzal and Rana Mashhood have been delayed until the elections, said the accountability watchdog.

The NAB is holding an inquiry against a number of political leaders in relation to alleged corruption in projects. The bureau on Tuesday arrested former Karachi Port Trust (KPT) chairman Jawed Hanif in an ongoing inquiry.

According to the bureau, the former chairman is accused of misuse of power and illegal appointments in the department, which cost the government Rs2.80 billion.

On June 26, NAB Lahore had arrested PML-N ticket holder Qamarul Islam from NA-59 Rawalpindi-III in connection with Punjab Saaf Pani Company corruption case.

The arrest came a day after the PML-N fielded Islam against disgruntled PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in the NA-59 constituency.

NAB AUTHORISES INQUIRIES AGAINST AHAD CHEEMA, OTHERS:

An inquiry was authorised against former Punjab Land Development Company director general Ahad Cheema, Bismillah Engineering Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shahid Shafique, Alam Faridi, owners, officers and others of Lahore Kasa Developers, officers of Lahore Development Authority for inflicting Rs660 million to the national exchequer due to involvement in alleged corruption and abuse of authority.

The meeting also authorised conducting an inquiry against the management and others of Punjab Sports Board and Youth festival for involvement in corruption and misuse of authority causing Rs1739 million losses to the national exchequer.

EBM authorised the filing of corruption reference against former Sindh IG Ghulam Haider Jamali and others for inflicting losses of Rs160.25 million to the national exchequer due to corruption and abuse of authority.

Executive Board authorised conducting investigations against the management of State Bank Cooperative Housing Society, officers and others of Revenue Department Karachi for illegally establishing State Bank Cooperative Housing Society on state land which inflicted losses to the national exchequers.

EBM authorised conducting of inquiry against officers and officials of Sindh Social Relief Fund. They are accused of inflicting Rs13.04 billion losses in the corruption of funds.

EBM authorised conducting an inquiry against Sindh Health Department’s HIV/AIDS Control Programme official Dr Muhammad Younas Chachar and others for causing Rs35.236 million losses, abuse of authority and corruption.

EBM approved conducting an inquiry against Sindh secretary health and others for abuse of authority and corruption in awarding contracts. This caused Rs 976 million losses to the national exchequer.

EBM authorised closing inquiry management and others of Sardar Begum Dental College Peshawar due to the absence of evidence.

EBM authorised conducting an inquiry against Alrazi Medical College. They have been accused of misuse of authority and cheating students.

EBM authorised referring inquiry against former  Fata Development Authority  CEO and others to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary to verify complaints of allegedly recruiting 414.

EBM approved inquiry against officers and officials for awarding contracts to favourites by misusing authority which caused losses of Rs90 million to the national exchequer.

EBM authorised conducting an inquiry against officers and officials of billion tree tsunami. They have been accused of inflicting Rs19 billion losses to the national kitty due to corruption in the funds of the project.

EBM approved conducting an inquiry against former Quetta Development Authority director general Masood Ahmed Barkati. He has been accused of allotting plots to Chilten Extension Housing Scheme, Quetta, which caused Rs7.4 million losses to the national exchequer.

EBM approved investigations against former Quetta Development Authority director general Masood Ahmed Barkati for allotting plots in Zarghon Housing Scheme and Karani Housing Scheme, causing Rs30.27 million losses to the national exchequer.

EBM approved filing a supplementary reference against former Water and Sanitation Agency, Quetta managing director Hamid Latif and others for having assets beyond known sources of income, causing Rs354.9 million losses to the national exchequer.

EBM approved Rs34.375 million plea bargain application of reference no 5/2008 Estate vs Hafizur Rehman.

EBM approved filing reference against former Punjab IG in corruption in official funds of Vehari Police and misuse of authority. They have inflicted losses of millions of rupee to the national exchequer.