Three NAB officials suspended

KARACHI: At least three officials of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Karachi chapter were suspended reportedly due to providing information of ongoing investigations against a former provincial minister to minister’s private secretary, The News has learnt. According to well-placed sources of NAB Karachi some of officials of Bureau were involved in leaking of information, case papers and details of complaints and other investigation material to accused persons including some influential former and incumbent ministers and bureaucrats. Upon this information, NAB authorities took prompt action and directed officials (under doubt) to submit their cell phones and after the examination of three officials’ cell phone records it emerged that information was leaked through WhatsApp by these officials to private secretary of a former minister. NAB authorities took action by suspending these officials and started inquiry against them. Earlier in first week of March, NAB sacked two officers of the Karachi chapter including Deputy Director (BS-18) Sarvesh Sheikh and Assistant Director (BS-16) Shakir Ali after corruption was proved against them in a departmental inquiry. According to a NAB official statement both the officers were dismissed from service after completing all legal requirements. Both officers were provided ample opportunity to prove innocence, but they failed to defend allegations levelled against them. NAB Spokesman Asim Nawazish did not return this reporter’s calls or text messages till the time of filing of this news item.