Ex-ETPB boss Asif Hashmi arrested 

Faces over Rs1.5 bn corruption probe by NAB, FIA

ISLAMABAD: The former chairman of Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), Asif Hashmi, who has been arrested from Dubai and will soon be handed over to the Interpol, faces three corruption cases in National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for illegal investments of Rs985.56 million in stock exchange and making 716 illegal appointments. Besides, Hashmi also faces a case in Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in which he is accused of selling ETPB land to Defense Housing Authority at cheap rates.

An investigation report of NAB states that NAB Lahore conducted an inquiry into the allegations of appointments\recruitments, illegal allotment and sale of ETPB property, misappropriation and embezzlements etc against Asif Akhtar Hashmi and case on account of illegal transfer of ownership and possession of ETPB land (Property No.SE-36-R -140 & 142 vide Khasra No.170-171) measuring 2-K, 14 marla15 sq ft. Inquiry has already been approved in EBM dated 5th June, 2015 against the accused, other officers, officials of ETPB, Rashida Begum and Muhammad Ayyub.

The NAB investigation states, “On examination of the matter it was found that a large number of witnesses and suspects are involved in each allegation. Illegal investment of Rs985.56 with M/s High Links Capital (Pvt) Ltd was to be dealt with as separate case.

“All appointments, promotions, illegal regularisations and allied maters to be dealt via separate investigation. (Present Chairman ETPB vide letter No. 4791 dated 02nd July, 2015 has also forwarded a complaint (NAB HQ Complaint Cell Diary No. 21968 dated 14th July 2015) against 716 x illegal appointments made in PMEIF (the educational institutions under the administrative control of  ETPB) and causing loss to the tune of Rs399,716,462/- to state during the period from 2008-2009 to 2012-2013, which may also be merged in this case being relevant to the Subject matter) and illegal allotment of plots to ETPB employees to be dealt independently.

“Fraud committed by Ex-Management of ETPB in connivance with the land grabbers to deprive ETPB of its valuable property worth Rs.300 million (measuring 2-K 14-Marla-15 Sq ft) by handing over the possession through forged antedated documents. i. Syed Asif Akhtar Hashmi, Ex-Chairman ETPB; Dr. Muhammad Ali, Ex-Vice Chairman ETPB, Lahore; Junaid Ahmed, Ex-Secretary, ETPB, Lahore; Rana Tariq Javaid, Deputy Administrator-II, Lahore; Sh. Muhammad Ayub, Purchaser and Mst Rashia Begum.”

Similarly NAB probe has also found Asif Hashmi responsible for making illegal investment worth Rs 985.56 million in stock exchange of which Rs 20 million has been recovered while Rs 965 million is still recoverable.

The Federal Investigation Agency is also conducting an inquiry on the direction of Supreme Court of Pakistan in a suo moto case involving a scam of embezzlement of Rs 721million. Not only this, the current management of ETPB has compiled a long list of cases against Asif Hashmi including investment in a housing society in Nankana Sahib; Benazir Bhutto Hospital, BB Digital Library, commissions and kickbacks in dozens of contracts.