ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau’s top management has directed all its concerned director generals to go an extra-mile in their probe in high-profile cases, including the ones against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif before deciding their fate.
High-level official sources in the NAB told The News that all relevant record and evidence in these high-profile cases was minutely scrutinised besides addressing the approaching queries to finally decide whether these cases were fit for prosecution or be closed in favour of those accused of corruption or misuse of authority.
The sources said that even otherwise as part of the NAB strategy adopted last year, all the pending cases were being decided. These sources claim that the Bureau will decide the fate of these high-profile cases without any fear or favour.
To a question about extensions in the deadlines, set for the finalisation of high-profile and mega corruption cases, these sources said that it was being done only for the reason that the concerned officers had been asked to deeply look into the case before deciding their fate.
The NAB realises that in case of maturing such probes for prosecution, the Bureau needs the kind of evidence that could convince the court to convict the accused.
The Bureau also understands that in case the investigation in any of the high profile cases is closed down and the concerned accused is given a clean chit, it would also require strong reasons.
However, one thing is made clear to all and sundry in the Bureau is that the past practice of keeping the cases pending for long will not be allowed anymore.The NAB, which had earlier set Dec 31, 2015 deadline to decide the fate of corruption investigations against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, is now to complete its probe into these cases by March 31, 2016.
Two separate investigations are presently under progress against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. In one of the cases, the prime minister, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and others are alleged of misusing the authority in the construction of a road from Raiwind to Jati Umra residence of the Sharifs. The case is pending with the NAB since 2000, and involves an alleged misappropriation of Rs125 million.
In the other case, the prime minister is alleged of making illegal appointments in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). This inquiry is pending against the premier since 1999. These cases against the Sharifs were included by the NAB among cases of “mega corruption”, the list of which was presented by the Bureau before the Supreme Court last year. Among the rulers, besides Sharifs, a case against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was also reflected in the list of “mega corruption” cases. Dar’s case was initially to be concluded by Dec 15, 2015 but the NAB had further extended the deadline to Feb 29, 2016.
According to the NAB sources, NAB’s top management has not yet been reported by the concerned director general about the conclusion of the probe against the finance minister by Feb 29. The investigation against Dar was pending with the NAB since 2000. Dar was alleged of misuse of authority and for having assets beyond known means.
Some high-profile cases involving ex-prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, ex-interim prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat Husain and former chief minister Punjab Ch Pervaiz Elahi will be decided by end March this year.
In the case of Chaudhry Shujaat and Pervaiz Elahi, the NAB investigations pertain to their alleged misuse of authority and having assets beyond their known means. The case against the Chaudhrys of Gujrat was also framed in 2000 before their joining the-then dictator Musharraf.
There are inquiries against Pervaiz Ashraf, ex-finance minister Shaukat Tareen and others in alleged cases of misuse of authority in the award of RPP contracts and about alleged misuse of authority in release of funds for dual road from Sohawa to Chakwal and Mandra to Gujar Khan.
Cases are also to be decided in either way involving Senator Sehar Kamran, ex-principal Pakistan International School, Jeddah, former chief minister Balochistan Nawab Aslam Raisani, former minister for industries and commerce Balochistan Abdul Ghafoor Lehri, former PPP minister Firdous Ashiq Awan, etc.