EBM proves 17 inquiries against accused

ISLAMABAD: An Executive Board meeting (EBM) of National Accountability Bureau, chaired by Chairman Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal here Wednesday, approved 17 inquiries against various accused.

Those against whom inquiries were authorized, included former minister Ejaz Hussain Jakhrani, Hanif Abbasi, Vice Chairman Sports Board, Punjab, Syed Tanveer-ul-Hassan Gilani, former minister and others, Arif Ibrahim, Senior Joint Secretary Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, Zia-ur-Rehman, Commissioner Afghan Refugees, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, besides officers and officials of National Police Foundation (NPC), National TB Programme, Ministry of Health, Islamabad, Information Department, Government of Sindh, Karachi Development Authority (KDA), University of Swat, Tourism Corporation, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pak-Austria Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology, Haripur, Khyber Pakhtuknhwa and others.

The EBM also authorised conducting two inquiries against Jan Muhammad Jamali, former speaker Balochistan Assembly, Jam Ghulam Qadir Darijo, former Commissioner, Sukkur and others. The details of the investigations would be conveyed as per directives of Supreme Court of Pakistan.

According to press release issued, NAB hereby clarifies that the investigations and inquiries are being initiated on the basis of only alleged allegations, which are not final.

NAB will have to hear the point of view of accused persons to fulfill legal requirements.

EBM has allowed to conduct filing four corruption references against various personalities. EBM has authorised filing corruption reference against Shaukat Ali Bangash, Chief Executive Officer, Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital and Global Health Services, Islamabad and others.

They have been accused of allegedly collecting, using the hefty amounts of overseas Pakistanis for personal gains on the promise of sharing the ownership of Quaid-e-Azam Hospital and Global Health Services, Islamabad with them which caused Rs 612.8 million losses.

EBM has also allowed filing corruption references against Ghulam Mustafa Phal, former Secretary Land Utilisation Department, Karachi, Fazal-ur-Rehman, former DCO, Roshan Ali Shaikh, former Commissioner Karachi, Shaukat Hussain Jokhio and others. The accused have been involved in the alleged leasing of 265 acre government land which was allocated to Sports Complex, Landhi, Karachi.

The EBM authorised filing reference against Khawaja Siddiq-e-Akbar, Former Chairman Workers Welfare Board, Quetta, Mumtaz Ali Khan, Former Secretary Workers Welfare Board, Quetta, Muhammad Hassan Baloch, Vice Commissioner and others. They have been accused of recruiting their favorites illegally, which caused heavy losses to the national exchequer.

Likewise, the EBM has also authorised filing reference against Shahid Rafi, former Secretary Ministry of Water and Power, former Chairman Board of Governors, PEPCO, Muhammad Saleem Arif, Malik Muhammad Razi Abbas, Tahir Basharat Cheema former Managing Director, PEPCO and others. They have been accused of alleged illegal recruitment in KESCO. Their this act inflicted heavy losses to the national exchequer.

Meanwhile, the chairman NAB has said that taking mega corruption cases to logical conclusion is the topmost priority of NAB. The officers of NAB are vehemently pursuing the policy of "Accountability for All.'

NAB officers not only consider elimination of corruption as their national responsibility but also trying their optimum level to make the country corruption free.

Chairman directed NAB officials to conduct investigations, inquiries and complaint verification on merit and transparency and within the prescribed time frame. He warned strict action against the officers who failed to conclude investigations, inquiries and complaint verification within the stipulated time frame.

Chairman also directed to file CMAs in relevant courts against stay orders as per law. The cases could be concluded after vacation of stay orders.