NAB ‘probing’ Walton Airport sale

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Lahore, is looking into alleged massive corruption linked to the sale of the Walton Airport.

Sources say the investigation is focusing on the sale and undervaluation of the airport, which was estimated to be worth Rs350 billion but was allegedly sold for only Rs50 billion. Of this, only 1 billion rupees were deposited in the CAA account, raising significant concerns about financial discrepancies. The land sale, executed during the tenure of former prime minister Imran Khan, aimed to facilitate the development of the Central Business District (CBD) project. However, the NAB probe is delving into the substantial undervaluation of the property and other financial irregularities associated with this transaction. The NAB has expanded its investigation to include other CAA officials as well.

Reports reveal that the NAB has prepared a comprehensive list of 13 questions to understand the decision-making process that led to the closure and subsequent commercial utilization of the airport. Additionally, the NAB has engaged the Aircraft Owners and Operators Association, requesting their cooperation and insights to further unravel the complexities of this case. The association has been asked to respond to the same set of questions aimed at clarifying the reasons behind the airport closure and its conversion for commercial purposes.

The Walton Airport was officially closed by the CAA in May 2021, resulting in grounding of all aircraft from flying clubs operating at the site. This closure aligned with the launch of the CBD project under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, spearheading significant commercial redevelopment at the airport location. The ongoing investigation is expected to uncover critical details and potentially lead to significant legal and financial repercussions for those involved.

Sources said a former director general of the CAA, Khaqan Murtaza, is facing investigations. However, when contacted by The News, Khaqan Murtaza rejected all allegations against him as rubbish, adding that the “NAB would issue a clarification tomorrow (Friday) Insha’Allah”.

The CAA also endorsed Khaqan’s denial, saying the report is totally false and is being pushed to damage the image of a loyal civil servant.

The CAA spokesperson said, “We would like to clarify that these false allegations were floated by the AOOA and other applicants. The NAB has issued a questionnaire to the applicants, which they have not yet provided to NAB. Applicants have only submitted the application and have not provided any proper evidence or statement to support their claims. NAB has not issued any official notice to the former DG of CAA or to Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority recently, specifically concerning land matters of Walton Airport.”