- Anti-graft body to probe Musharraf’s alleged misuse of authority, assets beyond means
- Investigations also authorised against Moonis Elahi, Aleem Khan
ISLAMABAD: In an unprecedented move, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday approved probe against the former army chief and president General (r) Pervez Musharraf for alleged misuse of authority and assets beyond means.
The decision was taken by NAB Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal during the executive board meeting (EBM) of the bureau which also authorised several inquiries, investigations, and filing of references against ‘corrupt persons’ linked to civilian and military branches of the bureaucracy.
Probe against the former army chief would be an extraordinary move in the country’s history as the ‘establishment’ has never allowed any civilian body to investigate a serving or retired senior army officer on the pretext that the army has its own system of accountability.
On February 9, Islamabad High Court (IHC) had redefined NAB’s powers, allowing the bureau to investigate ex-military men, especially retired generals, and directed it to investigate Musharraf for his alleged corruption while holding his office.
The judgment had cleared a 19-year-old ambiguity in the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) due to which NAB had always shown reluctance in proceeding against retired army officers despite complaints of corruption against them.
In 2016, the ex-President left the country into self-imposed exile after the three-year travel ban was lifted. His lawyers had argued that he needed to travel abroad for medical treatment, and visit his ailing mother in Dubai. After coming to power in 1999 in a bloodless coup against Nawaz Sharif, Musharraf had stood down when threatened with impeachment. He returned to Pakistan in March 2013 after nearly four years of self-imposed exile to contest elections.
In 2018, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi had seized the former army chief’s surety bonds and started proceedings against the surety givers as the accused failed to show up in court in the Benazir Bhutto murder case. The court had already declared Musharraf — named a suspect by Benazir herself in case of her murder— as an absconder over his failure to show up in the court.
ELIMINATING CORRUPTION OUR PRIORITY: NAB CHIEF
Speaking on the occasion, the NAB chief said the elimination of corruption was their priority, reiterating his firm resolved that politicians are honourable for the bureau, and assuring that the actions of NAB were in accordance with law and available evidence.
“NAB cannot even imagine starting vilifying campaign against politicians or their character assassination. NAB will never indulge in such vilifying activities. However, taking action against any politician in corruption case could not be termed his or her character assassination. NAB works under purview of law of the land,” he added.
“The NAB would explain its point in any court of law. NAB officers consider elimination of corruption as their national responsibility. They are utilising their energies for making the country corruption free. He said the inquiries, investigations, complaint verifications should be taken to their logical conclusion as per law, merit, and availability of concrete evidence. He said NAB was strictly pursuing the policy of Accountability for All. The first and last priority of NAB is keeping the interests of Pakistani people supreme.”
OTHER ‘CORRUPTION’ CASES:
Yet another inquiry was approved against the former MPA of Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Moonis Elahi of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) for alleged corruption and an offshore company as reported in Panama Papers.
The executive board also authorised an inquiry against Aleem Khan, in view of his company Hexam Investments Overseas Limited, and others for their alleged corruption and establishment of offshore companies as reported in the Panama Leaks.
Besides, another inquiry was authorised by the bureau against Abdullah Yousaf for his involvement in corruption and creating an offshore company as reported in Panama Papers.
EMB authorised filing a corruption reference against the former chairman of NICL Abid Javed Akbar, management of FDBIL and others for making investments of over Rs 100 million in FDBIL by allegedly misusing authority, causing Rs 67.056 million losses to the national exchequer.
The meeting authorised closing inquiry against the officials of Bahrain branch of National Bank of Pakistan due to the lack of evidence. The EMB authorised conducting an inquiry against the officials of Muhammad Bin Qasim Land Utilisation Department, Sindh, for their alleged involvement in illegally allotting government to private individuals by misusing their authority. This caused millions of rupee losses to the national kitty, according to the inside sources.
The meeting authorised filing a corruption reference against the former chairman of Capital Development Authority (CDA) Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, former CDA member Saeedur Rehman and others. The accused are found allegedly involved in corruption, misuse of authority in the construction of the cultural complex in Shakarparian, Islamabad, and thus inflicting Rs 471.498 million to the national exchequer.
The EBM authorised conducting inquiry against former Pakistan ambassador to Cuba Kamran Shafi. EBM decided action under 31-A against Shafi for non-cooperation with NAB.
Yet another inquiry was authorised against the officers of Federal Tax Ombudsman, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and others. They have been accused of doling out tax refunds illegally causing millions of rupees of losses to the national kitty.
The EBM authorised another inquiry against former minister for housing Akram Khan Durrani, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of PHA Foundation Jamil Ahmed Khan, Zafaryab Khan and others for ‘illegally’ allotting PHA Foundation’s land for mosques situated at Kurri Road, Sector I-12, I-16 to their favourites.
An inquiry was also approved by the EBM against the President of Bank of Punjab Naeemuddin Khan and others. They have been accused of maneuvering prices of shares and inside trading in the government-owned bank. The meeting authorised conducting an inquiry against Chief Mechanical Engineer (C&W) of Pakistan Railways Adnan Shafi and others for allegedly buying 1.405 Hooper Wagons for replacing coal and inflicting Rs 168 million losses to the national kitty. An inquiry was approved against Tariq Javed, Makhdoom Umer Shahryar and others for alleged suspicious transactions.
The EBM authorised inquiry against Habib Waqas, Ilyas Mehraj and the owners of Messers Helinible Limited Bhemas for allegedly indulging in corruption and establishing an offshore company as reported in Panama Papers.
INVESTIGATIONS CLOSED:
The EBM has started closing investigations against Director/ Guarantors of M/s Umair Steel Industries (Pvt) Ltd, Lahore, and others due to unavailability of proof.
The EBM authorised closing inquiry against the former director of distance learning education in Bahauddin Zakria University, Multan, Muhammad Ishaq Fani and others due to lack of evidence. It also authorised closing inquiry against the officers of Health Department, Quetta, and others owing to lack of evidence.
The inside sources added that the NAB’s EBM also authorised an inquiry against Director of SEDA Ghotki Anwar Ali Sial for his involvement in inflicting Rs 1900 million losses to national losses due to alleged illegal appointments, corruption and misappropriation of government funds.
