ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) rejected a news item appearing in a section of the press regarding “Multan Metro Bus Project (MMBP)” and termed it "concocted, mere speculations and imaginary."
“Such crime fictions media news may attract ordinary reader but does not serve the purpose for prosecution being devoid of plausible incriminating evidence and may create mistrust, hatred against the state institutions among general public by painting as ineffective and inefficient organizations,” a press release said.
The bureau asked media to avoid publishing/airing speculative news of criminal cases such a practice could jeopardize the due process of law and cause irreparable loss to the repute and image of the state Institutions.
Sharing the facts about the MMBP, the NAB said an inquiry was authorized by authority to probe Multan Metro Bus Project.
The inquiry covered the points including evaluation of feasibility study and approval of the project, evaluation of bidding process award of contracts, execution of works, international procurements, payments made to contractors, sub-contractors and vendors, land acquisition process, tracking/trailing of financial transactions into accounts of M/s Yabaite China.
The said inquiry was split into two investigations as per transactions of offences committed in the MMBP.
Three different teams of experts comprising engineers, bankers and revenue officers were constituted to assist the investigation team. Relevant record was collected from concerned departments, consultants, banks, account holders, land owners and suppliers were thoroughly interrogated during investigation.
The NAB teams visited Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad for collection of evidence. Analysis of plethora of record has been carried out for government money paid from national exchequer.
Accused persons were placed on Exit Control List and a number of accused had been arrested, while a few managed to get pre-arrest bails by the courts.
Loss to national exchequer to the tune of Rs 2200 million has been unearthed during the of investigation. Three out of six construction companies have submitted their applications to the NAB to return illegal gains from the national exchequer.
Mutual legal assistance has been worked out for detection of trans-border transactions for collection of information from relevant authorities.
The NAB Multan is conducting investigation as per law. After completion of investigation, the NAB Multan will send its investigation report to NAB Headquarters for further scrutiny.
After due process of scrutiny and legal vetting on the basis of incriminating evidence, investigation report will be presented in the Executive Board meeting.
APP