The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday decided to file another corruption reference against former president Asif Ali Zardari and two former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani for acquiring vehicles and gifts from Toshakhana (treasure-house) in violation of the set rules and regulations.
An official said that the reference is said to be an offshoot of multi-fake bank accounts case against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur. The other accused of the corruption reference, which was approved by NAB Executive Board Meeting (EBM) presided over by Chairman NAB former justice Javed Iqbal, include Khawaja Anwer Majeed and Khawaja Abdul Ghani Majeed.
The official said that inquiry against Special Assistant to the PM for Overseas Pakistanis & HRD Zulfiqar Bukhari has been stopped due to lack of evidence.
The accused had allegedly acquired vehicles and gifts from Toshakhana in violation of rules and regulations which incurred heavy losses to the national exchequer, he said, adding that Toshakhana is a place where state gifts and emblems are stored.
According to NAB, former prime minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani had given three luxury vehicles to former president Asif Ali Zardari and one to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. The vehicles had been gifted by the government of Saudi Arabia in 1997, he said, adding that as per law the president or prime minister cannot retain gifted cars.
He further told the court that Sharif had illegally acquired a vehicle bearing registration number IDS-78 from Toshakhana.
He said that the bureau also approved references against Kamran Shafi, former ambassador, and Wajid Shamsul Hassan, former High commissioner UK, for alleged financial irregularities. The accused persons gave financial dent to the national treasury up to $27,000 and $28,000 respectively.
He said that the EBM also okayed a corruption reference against secretary of State Bank Cooperative Society Abdullah Alvi and others. The accused have allegedly cheated public at large and embezzled Rs7.8 million.
He said that the meeting also approved four different investigations including investigations against corrupt employees of Sindh government's health department, members of procurement committee, program managers of Hepatitis Prevention and Control Program of Sindh, health minister of Balochistan Rehmat Baloch, Aijaz Jakhrani and others.
The board has also okayed nine inquiries against the administration of Safe City Project Islamabad, against officers and other accused officials of Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency (TEPA) and Lahore Development Authority (LDA); a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Ashiq Hussain Khan Gopang, former MNA Shuakat Basra and owners, directors and others of Abdullah Shah Ghazi Sugar Mills Limited.
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