ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday approved investigations against former federal ministers Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Babar Ghouri, Zafar Leghari and former lawmakers Aleem Khan, Rai Mansab Ali Khan, Sohail Zafar and others over corruption charges against them amounting to billions of rupees.
The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) of NAB, chaired by NAB Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal, took various decisions.
NAB has clarified that NAB inquiries and investigations are not final and before finalising all the cases against the accused, NAB will verify the allegations from the accused persons as per law.
The EBM approved the filing of corruption references against former federal minister Babar Khan Ghouri and others over alleged abuse of authority and causing losses of Rs2.85 billion to the national exchequer by illegally appointing 974 persons.
The meeting authorised inquiry against former federal minister Khawaja Asif and others who are accused of alleged money laundering and having assets beyond known sources of income, thus causing Rs3668.671 million losses to the national exchequer.
NAB also authorised reference against Sikander Aziz and others on accusations of abuse of authority and occupying the land of Peshawar Cantonment Board by preparing fake documents, consequently inflicting heavy losses to the national exchequer.
The NAB body authorised conducting an inquiry against officials/officers of workers welfare board of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan. They have been accused of abusing power and allegedly committing corruption in the purchase of equipment in Matric Tech project, causing Rs100 million losses to the national exchequer.
The meeting approved conducting an inquiry against the officials of National Highway Authority (NHA) for awarding an illegal contract in Multan-Sukkur Motorway Project which inflicted Rs259.352 billion losses to the national exchequer. The EBM approved conducting an inquiry against the management/revenue officers of Sahil Private Limited for causing whooping losses to the national exchequer by illegal allotment of government land illegal it subsequently commercial use.
The EBM authorised inquiry against former minister for railways and Sindh’s minister for irrigation Zafar Ali Leghari and others for involvement in corruption and occupying government land, inflicting Rs574 million losses to the national exchequer.
The meeting also approved inquiry against Special Assistant to Sindh Chief Minister Behlaj Mal for having assets beyond known sources of income, causing Rs1 billion losses to the national exchequer.
Inquiry against former MNA and PPP leader Abdul Hakim Baloch was approved for having assets beyond known sources of income and causing Rs763 million losses to the national exchequer. The EBM also authorised inquiry against Peshawar district nazim for illegally transferring whooping amounts to District Council, inflicting Rs100 million losses to the national exchequer.
The EBM authorised conducting an inquiry against Cabinet Division officials for issuing Rs9 billion to PWD for allegedly allowing favourite contractors to carry out development works in NA-21 Mansehra.
The EBM also authorised inquiry against former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief secretary Amjad Ali Khan, officers of C&W Department, officers of the irrigation department. They have been accused of abuse of authority, corruption in development funds, illegal sale of irrigation department land and illegally cutting Sheesham trees and selling to favourites, inflicting losses to the national exchequer.
The EBM authorised conducting an inquiry against former MPA Anita Irfan Bashir and others on the accusation of alleged corruption in the funds of Christian Housing Scheme Quetta, causing losses to the national exchequer.
The EBM authorised conducting of inquiry against Ramesh Lal and others for abuse of authority and having assets beyond known sources of income. Inquiry against former members of provincial assembly was approved for inflicting losses to national exchequer through alleged corruption and involvement in abuse of authority.
The EBM authorised inquiry against former member of provincial assembly Ahmed Hussain Dahar and others for allegedly having assets beyond income and abuse of authority. The meeting authorised conducting an inquiry against former member provincial/National Assembly (NA) Rai Mansab Ali Khan, Tehsildar Muzaffargarh, Rai Inayat and others for causing losses to the national exchequer by allotting state land by abusing their authority.
The meeting approved conducting an inquiry against former member provincial assembly Sohail Zafar and others for alleged abuse of authority and having assets beyond income.
The EBM authorised conducting an inquiry against PTI leader Abdul Aleem Khan and others for their involvement in the suspicious transaction of Euro50 million. Another inquiry was approved against National Testing Services’ (NTS) Haroon Rashid, Waheedullah Nagra, Muhammad Javed, former regional head Mohibur Rehman and others for their involvement in alleged corruption and non-transparency in examinations, whereas investigations were approved against a private person Tahir Mehmood Khalwani who was arrested for committing corruption and cheating people.
The EBM authorised conducting investigation against former Punjab University Vice-Chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran and others for alleged abuse of authority and illegal appointments.