NAB to further tighten the noose around Punjab government
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ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal has tightened the noose around the Punjab government and taken strict notice of the non availability of the records in important cases pertaining to the Shahbaz Sharif government.
NAB Chairman while taking serious notice of concealment of records in connection with Multan Metro Project and four of the 56 public limited companies established by Punjab government, on Tuesday directed the chief secretary to provide the required record at the earliest to ensure the timely completion of the investigation.
Javed Iqbal chaired a high-level meeting at NAB headquarters to review the overall progress of inquiries being conducted on his directions after taking charge of the coveted office on October 11, 2017.
Since taking charge, the chairman had authorised a total of 43 cases for onward prosecution in various NAB courts. The total approved cases included scrutiny of 22 cases, inquiry in 17 cases and authorised investigations in four cases.
The chairman expressed dissatisfaction on the overall progress in 22 cases approved by him for filing in NAB courts. He directed the officials concerned to take the cases to a logical conclusion through inquiry, investigation and scrutiny of various complaints within the stipulated period. He said that the slogan ‘Accountability for All’ would be strictly adhered to in order to free the country from corruption.
He also said that NAB did not believe in revenge and did not promote any affiliation with political parties or individuals. He directed NAB officers to perform their duties diligently and investigate all cases in accordance with the law. He directed the officers to keep pace with the reforms being pushed forward by him.
Javed Iqbal reviewed the progress of investigations in 435 companies established by Pakistanis in Panama and British Virgin Islands, including 15 companies owned by Zulfikar Bukhari, 34 offshore companies owned by Senator Usman Saifullah and his family, four offshore companies of Aleem Khan in the United Kingdom and companies established by Chaudhry Moonis Elahi and others.
The chairman expressed concern over the lazy attitude being shown by the officials of Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR), Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), State Bank of Pakistan and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) while providing the record to NAB. He directed them to provide the record of 435 offshore companies owned by various Pakistanis and to complete the investigations as soon as possible.
The chairman also directed the chief secretary to provide the record of Multan Metro Bus project, 56 public limited companies established by the Punjab government and non-provision of record of four companies out of a total of 56. The record of four companies, including Punjab Saaf Pani Company and Punjab Power Development Company, have not yet been provided by the Punjab Anti-Corruption director general despite possessing the relevant record.
The chairman directed the chief secretary to provide the required record so that investigations against 56 public limited companies could be completed on time. The working of any company should not be stopped due to NAB inquiry, he added.
He further directed an inquiry against Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Kamran Michael for alleged misuse of authority. He also ordered scrutiny of a complaint against former Railways Chairman Arif Azeem, alleged corruption in National Testing Service, Paragon City Lahore, Eden Housing and Developers, Lahore, and Rawalpindi Railways Employees Housing Society, and directed the officials concerned to take the investigations to their logical conclusion.
The chairman also reviewed the progress on cases of former Railways Minister Haji Zafar Leghari, Sindh Health Secretary Dr Fazalullah Pechhu, former Sindh Inspector General Ghulam Haider Jamali, Former Water Management Director General Agha Zafarullah Durrani, member of National Assembly (MNA) Captain (r) Safdar, Baluchistan Minister Muhammad Khan Shahwani, Karachi Monitoring Director General Imdad Memon, former MNA Syed Nasir Ali Shah, former Baluchistan ministers Jaffar Khan Mandokhel, Obaidullah Jan Babat, former Baluchistan Inspector General Dr Mujeebur Rehman, former special assistant to Sindh Chief Minister Zilah Mil, former members of provincial assemblies (MPAs) Ahmed Hussein Dahar, Jawad Kamran Khar, Sardar Ali Dareshik, officers of Ministry of National Health Services and Regulations.
The chairman also reviewed the progress of other cases as well, including those initiated against officers of Pakistan International Airlines, Karachi Development Authority, Officers housing Society of KPT, Abdullah Yousaf and directed to complete the investigations, inquiries within the stipulated period.
