Senior officials of NAB told The News that the investigation team probing the scam has sent a request to Chairman NAB Admiral (Retd) Fasih Bokhari for asking the Interior Ministry to place the names of former Mumtaz Haider Rizvi and other concerned officials on the Exit Control List till the completion of inquiry. Mumtaz Haider, who is retiring on August 2, is currently on leave.

However, sources said chairman NAB has not yet taken any decision in this regard. But they indicated he is likely to decide within days.The NAB sources said a decision was also taken to hold another session with the officials of the FBR on the basis of inquires from the representatives of five cellular companies.

The investigating team is also thinking of holding on-site interviews with the officials of the FBR on the basis of the new information. “The NAB team will visit the offices of the FBR and check the record for verification of the material and information gathered after inquires from the representatives of the telecom sector,” a senior NAB official stated. Chairman NAB on July 4 prevented the Federal Bureau of Revenue from issuing a notification of tax waiver to the cellular companies and constituted a committee comprising DG Operation, Director Special Operations and a senior banking officer of NAB to investigate the matter.

A high-level team of FBR comprising Member Inland Revenue, Member Admin and Chief Sales Tax appeared before the inquiry team of NAB on the issue of giving waiver to the telecom companies.

During the inquiry, former chairman FBR was confronted with evidence and supporting documents. He thanked NAB for timely intervention and guidance provided to him by NAB in safeguarding public money.