ISLAMABAD: Two men who allegedly took millions from people, government officials and private organisations in Bahawalpur while posing as officers of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) were arrested on Thursday.
According to details, NAB Multan in coordination with the bureau’s Islamabad Intelligence Wing arrested Syed Muhammad Ejaz Hussain Kazmi, a resident of Bahawalpur’s Yazman Tehsil, on the allegations of cheating the people by impersonating himself as a NAB officer. He promised the people and some complainants regarding allotment of state land by using his influence on the revenue authorities and allegedly looted Rs 26 million.
Kazmi also obtained money from different complainants promising their induction in the bureau and handed over fake appointment letters. An accountability court in Multan has granted him a physical remand of 14 days into NAB custody. During the interrogation, retrieval of further information of offences is expected, according to the accountability watchdog.
Muhammad Nadeem, a resident of Bahawalpur’s Hasilpur tehsil, was also arrested on December 20, 2018, for impersonating as a NAB officer and making calls to senior officers of different government departments and private organisations to obtain illegal benefits. During inquiry conducted so far, the accused confessed to looting 11 persons and organisations, and obtained approximately Rs 3.5 million, according to NAB.
In a press release, the accountability watchdog said, “Cases of cheating public at large in the garb of impersonation as NAB officers have rapidly increased which deprives the people of their hard-earned money and earns a bad name for the image and repute of NAB as an organisation.”
NAB Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal has taken stern action on such complaints, it added. He appreciated the performance of NAB Multan and Islamabad Intelligence Wing.
