The Accountability Court on Tuesday granted seven-day physical remand of former Chairman Capital Development Authority Imtiaz Inayat Elahi and former Member Finance CDA Saeed-Ur-Rehman, who were arrested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB). A senior official of National Accountability Bureau said that NAB Rawalpindi arrested Elahi and Rehman during investigations against CDA officials and others regarding alleged corruption and misuse of authority in construction of Cultural Complex at Shakarparian, Islamabad.
The NAB official said that Elahi had dishonestly ordered to stop work regarding ongoing project without cogent reasons and misused his authority or allegedly failed to exercise his authority judiciously, causing losses to national exchequer. He said that NAB investigators produced both the accused before Anti-Graft Court judge Muhammad Bashir. During the course of hearing, the NAB prosecutor told the court that the accused by misusing authority caused losses of Rs 471.498 million to the national exchequer. The NAB prosecutor requested the court to grant 14-day physical to the accused in order to verify and review available record.
While opposing the NAB plea, the defence counsel said that Elahi had been transferred from the CDA in 2011 and the project had not been completed then. "The contractor of project still has huge fund but why he has not been arrested yet," he said, adding that there is no allegation of bribery or benefiting other against his client. Later, the court remanded both the accused in the custody of NAB for seven days for further investigations. Elahi served as the CDA chairman from June 24, 2009 to December 9, 2011, after which he was posted as secretary Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD).
Elahi also worked as additional secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Health. He twice remained as deputy commissioner Islamabad from 1989 to 1992 and 1996 to 1997. He also served as commercial counselor Pakistan High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Elahi also served as joint secretary in the Prime Minister's Secretariat.
Meanwhile, the NAB Rawalpindi has formally started investigation against officers/officials of CDA and M/s BNP Pvt Ltd with respect to alleged misuse of authority by CDA officers/officials in allotment of plot to M/s BNP Group for construction of Grand Hyatt Tower at Constitution Avenue, Islamabad. Director General NAB Rawalpindi Irfan Naeem Mangi has said that the NAB is committed to eradicating corruption from the country.
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