Nandipur project case: AC to indict Raja, Awan and others on Monday

The Accountability Court will indict former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, former Law Minister Zaheer-ud-Din Babar Awan and other accused on Monday (March 11) in a corruption reference regarding delay in Nandipur power project.
While hearing the case, Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Arshad Malik said that the accused including Ashraf, Awan, Muhammad Masood Chishti, former secretary law, Justice Riaz Kiyani, former secretary law, Shamila Mahmood, former research consultant, Ministry of Law & Justice, Dr Riaz Mahmood, former senior joint secretary, Ministry of Law & Justice, and Shahid Rafi, former secretary Ministry of Water, would be indicted on Monday and issued notices to them.
The court ordered the accused persons to ensure their presence on Monday. Meanwhile, Awan withdrew his plea seeking acquittal in the Nandipur reference filed against him, Ashraf and others by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on September 4, 2018.
The Bureau had authorised investigation against Awan, Ashraf and others for causing losses of Rs 113 billion in the Nandipur power project. The project had been approved by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in December 2007 at a cost of $329 million. After approval, the contract was signed in January 2008 between the Northern Power Generation Company Limited (NPGCL) and the Dong Fang Electric Corporation (DEC), China. Two consortiums, ie, Coface for 68.967 million euros and Sinosure for $150.151 million were established for financing of the project.
The apex court had decided a petition regarding delay in the Nandipur project and nominated a commission consisting of former Justice Rahmat Hussain Jafferi to determine the responsibility for causes of delay. The Commission had conducted the inquiry by examining the record as well as witnesses and submitted its report in April 2012.
As per Judicial Commission's report, the officers and officials of the Ministry of Law and Justice were held responsible for the delay. Thereafter, the Ministry of Water and Power referred the matter to the NAB in the light of the report of Judicial Commission.