A meeting of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) executive board on Wednesday authorised inquiry into the multi-billion mega scam of Pakistan Steel Mills. The case was transferred to the bureau on the direction of the Supreme Court.
In its judgement, the Supreme Court had directed NAB to appoint a team to probe the multi-billion mega scam and to file a reference within three months, to determine the allegations against the individuals responsible for losses, and to take immediate steps to recover looted money. The NAB executive board meeting, presided by NAB Chairman Admiral (r) Fasih Bokhari, authorised inquiry into the case and the inquiry team would collect the relevant material/inquiry report from the FIA.
The meeting also approved the filing of a reference in a case against Mubarak Hussain Bokhari, former C&W Department Bannu assistant director and others. Four officials of the C&W Department and five contractors were investigated and found involved in corruption and corrupt practices causing a loss of Rs 104 million to the national exchequer. Of the nine accused, one official of the C&W Department and three contractors opted for plea bargain u/s 25(b) of NAO 1999. The board had decided to file a reference against another five accused namely Mubarak Hussain Bokhari, Ijaz Rasool, Shah Tehmas Khan, Bakhta Zeb Khan and Akbar Ali Khan. The board also authorised inquires into three willful loan default cases under Section 31-D of NAO 1999 against the directors and guarantors of M/S Tanveer Spinning and Weaving Mills Pvt Ltd Lahore (Rs158.465 million); M/S High Street Developers Pvt Ltd Lahore (Rs 71.102 million) and M/S Delta Construction Pvt Ltd Lahore (Rs142.977 million).
The board approved voluntary return (VR) against Syed Haseeb Azhar, a beneficiary in Qasr-e-Zauq case. In another case the board approved VR in terms of supply of paper to Sindh Text Book Board instead of cash. The board decided to close inquiry against the management of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in case of illegal appointment of commercial manager due to lack of incriminating evidence and also that no loss has been caused to the government exchequer. In another case relating to the allotment of a plot measuring 6000 square yards to M/s Siza Foods Pvt Ltd against Kamran Lashari, former CDA chairman, the board directed to inquire the case further by associating a land expert.
