GHQ finally ready to share NLC scam record with NAB

ISLAMABAD: After a lapse of four years, the GHQ has finally conveyed to NAB its willingness to share the official record of the NLC swindle involving generals and others.

Informed sources said NAB had been told to make a request for the acquisition of the NLC scam record through the proper channel — the Ministry of Defence. These sources said the authorities concerned in the GHQ had conveyed that the record would be provided.

The NAB sources expectedthat the required information would be available with the NAB sooner than later, which would let the Bureau conclude its inquiry into the NLC scam which had been pending since long.

The inquiry into the NLC scam has been pending with the NAB for years, as despite repeated reminders to the GHQ the Bureau had not been provided with the official record of the swindle.

The NLC scam is included among 150 plus mega corruption cases details of which were shared by the NAB with the apex court last year.Although months back the GHQ had completed its inquiry into the scam, the required official record is not required by the NAB for further inquiry into the matter. The NAB wants the record to inquire as to who did what in the scam.

Till recently, the NAB even on its official website has been publicly sharing the reasons for its inability to conclude the case. As reported earlier, the NAB had maintained, “As major portion of inquiry was being conducted at GHQ, NAB cannot finalise/conduct inquiry proceeding in isolation without provision of record.”

It had added, “Despite repeated reminders to NLC and GHQ since January 2012, no reply/record was received. Further no intimation regarding outcome of court of Inquiry against army officer was shared with NAB. As major portion of inquiry was being conducted at GHQ, NAB cannot finalise/conduct inquiry proceeding in isolation without provision of record.”

However, now the NAB is optimistic that with the arrival of the required record from GHQ the case would be concluded soon.Following internal inquiry, the GHQ last year had  fired from service a two-star general (major general), who formerly headed the military-run National Logistics Cell (NLC), while a former three-star general (lieutenant general) was reprimanded for his role in the case.

A civilian also was found guilty after a five-year investigation by the army into allegations of financial irregularities, lack of transparency and violation of rules and regulations in an investment made by the NLC in stock markets.

According to the NAB record, the NLC corruption involves Rs4 billion. The NLC reportedly suffered losses huge losses between 2004 and 2008 because of getting loans from commercial banks at high interest rates and investing Rs4 billion of pensioners’ money in stock markets. Additionally, it was alleged that kickbacks were received from companies through which the money was invested.

The case came to light when the PAC took it up in 2009 and ordered the Planning Commission to investigate it. The NLC administratively functions under the commission as an attached department. The findings of the commission’s inquiry were referred to the defence ministry in 2010 for action against the accused military officers.

The officers had by then retired, but were recalled into service for trial under the military law.The Planning Commission probe had highlighted financial irregularities, lack of transparency and failure to observe rules and regulations caused by reckless decisions of chain of command of NLC.

The investigation committee of the Planning Commission had finalised its report in January 2010. The findings were shared with the General Headquarters in September 2010. Following the receipt of findings, the then army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani decided to proceed against the accused under the Pakistan Army Act’s Section 94 instead of referring the matter to the National Accountability Bureau.

An Army Court of Inquiry was convened in November 2010, which reported preliminary findings to the COAS in February 2011. Subsequently, the then army chief ordered a formal investigation to allow a fair trial.

Summaries of evidence were recorded and submitted to the army chief in 2012.The ISPR had said the decision got delayed after the accused officers had furnished “additional documentary evidence” in their defence, which required more time for scrutiny and establishing their veracity.

Later the incumbent Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif ordered a re-investigation for ensuring justice and transparency.A committee of high-ranking officers, which re-investigated the case, evaluated the record of investments and interviewed all the witnesses before giving its findings.

Although the GHQ has done its job, the NAB still requires the official record of the case to complete its inquiry.The scam also involves civilian officers for which the GHQ was required to cooperate with the NAB.