NAB to file corruption references against former PM

NAB to file corruption references against former PM

ISLAMABAD (APP): The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday decided to file three corruption references including those against former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and PPP former minister Sharjeel Memon.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chairman NAB Qamar Zaman Chaudhry at NAB Headquarter here.

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The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) decided to file three corruption references, said a press release issued here.

First corruption reference was decided to file against Raja Pervez Ashraf, former federal minister for water and power, former secretary water and power Shahid Rafi and others M/S Young Gen Power Case.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for misuse of authority by signing the contract without the approval of NPGCL and without approval of tariff from NEPRA in violation of NEPRA rules.

Thus caused a loss of Rs. 503.62 million to the national exchequer.

The second corruption reference was decided to file against Sherjeel Inam Memon, former minister for information, governemnt of Sindh and others.

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In this case, the accused persons were alleged for corruption & corrupt practices in Information Department, government of Sindh by creating fake bills at exorbitant rates. Thus caused a loss of Rs. 3,27,91,77,029 to the national exchequer.

The third corruption reference was decided to file against Dr. Ihsan Ali, Vice Chancellor of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan and others.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for misuse of authority in making illegal appointments of ineligible candidates depriving eligible students from their due right. Thus caused a loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer.

The EBM decided to authorize six investigations. First investigation was authorized against officers/officials of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and others.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for award of Advertising Agency Contracts in violation of Public Procurement Rules 2004. Thus caused a loss of Rs. 2.93 billion to the national exchequer.

Second investigation was authorized against Ghulam Haider Jamali, Ex-IG Sindh, officers/officials of Accountant General AG Sindh Karachi and DDOs of various Department & others.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for misuse of authority, criminal breach of trust and embezzlement of government funds. Thus caused a loss of Rs. 1.2 billion to the national exchequer.

Third investigation was authorized against Khalid Mehmood Chadda, CEO, PIDC, Muhammad Mohsin Syed, EX-RD National Industrial Parks Development (NIP), Muhammad Zubair and others.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for illegal procurement of land measuring 800 kanals at exorbitant rates in Sargodha for national Industrial Parks Development and Management Company. Thus caused a loss of Rs. 147.8 million to the national exchequer.

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Fourth investigation was also authorized against Khalid Mehmood Chadda, CEO, PIDC, Faisal Shamim, CEO, Furniture Pakistan, Muhammad Ashraf and others.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for illegal and non transparent process of procurement of land measuring 17 Kanals and 16 Marlas in Sargodha for Furniture Pakistan. Thus caused a loss of Rs. 61.77 million to the national exchequer.

Fifth investigation was authorized against officers of Land Utilization Department, Govt of Sindh and others.

In this case, the accused persons also alleged for misuse of authority by regularization of land on fake and fabricated Documents. Thus caused a huge loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer.

Sixth investigation was authorized against Rauf Akhtar Farooqui, Ex-GM, (Admin), KPT and others.

In this case, the accused persons were alleged for misuse of authority in 1139 illegal appointments without completion of all codal formalities. Thus caused a loss of approximately Rs. 50 million to the national exchequer.

The EBM authorized two inquiries. First inquiry was authorized against officers/officials of Provincial Highways Authority, Jehlum, Punjab and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for buying substandard material which led to collapse of under construction bridge at Nowgan, Jehlum. Thus caused a loss of Rs. 350 million to the national exchequer.

Second inquiry was authorized against Dr. Abdul Sattar Rajper, MPA, BS-22, Naushero Feroze, Sindh. In this case, the accused person is alleged for accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income.

In a case against officers/officials of North Sindh Urban Services Corporation (NSUSC) District Khairpur and others. The EBM re-authorized the inquiry in this case for alleged misuse of authority and misappropriation of government funds approximately Rs. 190 million.

In an investigation against officers/officials of Ministry of National Health Regulations and Services and others. The plea bargain of Muhammad Tufail of M/S Saffron Pharmaceuticals (PVT) Limited was approved.

The EBM decided to approve the request for Rs. 45.804 million.

In an investigation officers/officials of Social Welfare and Special Education and M/S Maaza Pakistan (Pvt) Limited and others.

The EBM decided to approve the Voluntary Return request of Maaza Pakistan (Pvt) Limited of Rs. 36.83 million which the accused company deposited in the national exchequer.

The EBM also decided to close inquiry against Neelum Jehlum Project on the issue of Procurement of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) in Neelum Jehlum Project and complaint verification against Karachi Port Trust (KPT) officials due to lack of incriminating evidence.

At the end, Chairman NAB Qamar Zaman Chaudhry said that NAB is committed to eradicate corruption by adopting Zero Tolerance Policy through Awareness, Prevention and Enforcement Strategy.

He directed all officers and officials of NAB to conduct all complaint verifications, inquiries and investigations against corrupt in accordance with laid down laws/SOPs of NAB.