NAB to file two corruption references

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Board of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a meeting Thursday decided to file two corruption references.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, Chairman NAB at NAB Headquarters.

First corruption reference was decided to be filed against Zia Pervaz Hussain and others.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for obtaining award of contract of five Helicopters from Cabinet Division through bogus firms M/s Cuxhaven of Denmark and misappropriated a sum of US $ 2.168 million.

Second corruption reference was decided to be filed against Raja Muhammad Ikram-ul-Haq, Ex-Secretary/DG Pakistan Post Office Department and others.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for corruption and corrupt practices, fraud in housing scheme at Kurri Road, Islamabad and violation of PPRA rules in award of contract to M/s Telconet. Thus caused a loss of Rs. 100 million to the national exchequer.

The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) decided to authorize three investigations. First investigation was authorized against Iftikhar Qaimkhani, Ex-EDO, Karachi Development Authority (KDA) and others.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for misuse of authority and illegal conversion and amalgamation of street/walkways in Sea Shell Stalls Plots. Thus caused a loss of Rs. two billion to the national exchequer.

Second investigation was authorized against Dr. Josphen Wilson, Ex-Acting Chairman Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) and others.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for corruption, corrupt practices and misuse of authority. Thus caused a loss of Rs 10.22 million to the national exchequer.

Third investigation was authorized against authorities of PEPCO, QESCO and others.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for illegal appointments made in QESCO in different categories from BS-1 to BS- 16 in year 2008-10. Thus caused a huge loss to the national exchequer.

The EBM decided to authorize two inquiries.

First inquiry was authorized against Parveen Naeem Shah, Vice Chancellor (VC) Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur and others.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income and misuse of authority.

Thus caused a loss of Rs 100 million to the national exchequer.

Second inquiry was authorized against M/s Silver Line Spinning Mills (Pvt) Ltd, Bahawalpur Road, Lodhran.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for willful loan default of Rs 417. 698 million of UBL regarding Suspicious Transaction (STR) referred by the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU), State Bank of Pakistan under 31-D of NAO-1999.

The EBM decided to close two inquiries.

First inquiry against officers/officials of Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and others in the Metro Project lifts and escalators case and second inquiry against officers of PASSCO and others due to lack of incriminating evidence.

The EBM also decided to reject the Voluntary Return (VR) request of officers/officials of Sindh Police, AG Office Sindh Karachi and others on the allegation of embezzlement of budget of Sindh Police.

At the end, Chairman NAB Qamar Zaman Chaudhry said NAB is committed to eradicate corruption by using all its resources and by adopting Zero Tolerance Policy.

He directed all officers and officials of NAB to put in their best efforts to conduct complaint verifications, inquiries and investigations against corrupt in accordance with law, transparently and on merit.