NAB re-arrests former FDMA DG, others

Illegal assets

PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB)on Tuesday re-arrested Arshad Khan, a former director general of the Fata Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) along with his brother and front-man Dr Muhammad Arif allegedly involved in accumulation of illegal assets worth millions of rupees.

As per the NAB’s communiqué, the matter was brought into the notice of NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.Taking cognizance of the matter, it said an inquiry was authorized to ascertain the facts and collect requisite evidence regarding moveable and immoveable properties owned, controlled and possessed by the accused in his name and in the name of his dependents.

During the course of inquiry, the NAB claimed it found out that the accused Arshad Khan remained posted against key positions, including district coordination officer of Malakand, DG FDMA and DG Excise and Taxation at different times during 2008-2014.

It said the accused Arshad Khan acquired assets worth millions of rupees during his tenure as DG FDMA in his name and in the name of his brother Dr Muhammad Arif, who was the front-man and benamidar for his brother. 

The NAB claimed that their properties disproportionate to their known sources of income included a 10 marla house in Askari VI, Nasir Bagh Road Peshawar, 25 marla hujra at Malkander village in Peshawar, five marla Awami Villa at Bahria Town Rawalpindi, and 43 marla commercial plot of land on the University Road Peshawar worth Rs70 million acquired in 2013. 

Besides, the NAB stated that the brothers acquired two expensive plots of land in Kanju Town in Swat and operated various joint bank accounts wherein transactions of millions of rupees were made. Arshad Khan was arrested by NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the charges of fabricating 161 bogus survey forms in Mohmand Agency. The communiqué said that NAB had recovered Rs31 million from him. 

It stated that a reference of Rs59.6 million had been filed in the accountability court Peshawar against him for embezzling funds.It said that NAB was preparing another reference of about Rs300 million against Arshad Khan for pocketing funds meant for compensating the affected population in the wake of the military operation in Bajaur Agency.

However, the accountability court headed by Muhammad Ibrahim Khan on Tuesday refused to grant the custody of Dr Muhammad Arif to the NAB and directed it to release him.Barrister Waqar and Shah Nawaz Khan appearing for Dr Muhammad Arif submitted before the court that their client was benamidar in the case and under the law NAB couldn’t arrest him.

They submitted that NAB was still investigating the case and there were no solid evidence against Arshad Khan and his brother.The court granted the physical remand of Arshad Khan to NAB for 10 days and ordered the release of Dr Muhammad Arif.