Half of NAB’s 179 mega corruption cases disposed of

ISLAMABAD: Almost half of the NAB’s 179 mega corruption cases, the list of which was submitted before the Supreme Court in 2015, have been closed or disposed of and the beneficiaries include Mian Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Pervez Ashraf, Chauhdry Shujaat Hussain, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Nawab Aslam Khan Raisani and others.

A case of assets beyond known sources of income against Asif Ali Zardari was also included in the list but he was acquitted in the case. Among the “mega corruption cases”, the Inquiries against Younus Habib, ex-HBL chief, Hussain Haqqani, Senator Sehar Kamran, Schon Group and others were also closed by NAB.

So far there are merely 10 convictions out of these 179 cases. Cases of acquittal are almost 19 till recently when the NAB updated the information.

According to the details, shared by NAB on its official website, on the directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, a list of 179 mega cases was submitted before the apex court in May 2015. The breakup of these 179 “mega corruption cases”, at that time, was 81 inquiries, 52 investigations and 46 court references.

After almost nine years, the details of these cases include three inquiries and four investigations still under progress, 87 references under trial and 85 cases, mostly inquiries and investigations, stand disposed of as on April 30th, 2024. These 85 cases also include the references decided in favour or against the accused by the accountability courts.

An investigation against Mian Nawaz Sharif, Mian Shehbaz Sharif and others in an alleged case of misuse of authority regarding construction of road from Raiwind to Sharif family residence, was closed in July 2023 by the NAB. Another investigation against Nawaz Sharif in alleged illegal appointments in the FIA case was closed by NAB in 2017.

Inquiry against ex-prime minister Raja Parvez Ashraf, his then principal secretary and others in alleged case of misuse of authority in release of funds for dual road from Sohawa to Chakwal and Mandra to Gujjar Khan, was also closed by NAB in 2017.

An investigation against Ch Shujaat Hussain in an alleged case of assets beyond means, was closed by the NAB in 2021.

Three inquiries are still pending after so long because of restraining orders by the LHC. After the lapse of over nine years, an investigation against management of DHA valley Islamabad and others is still under process. Similarly an investigation against a former minister for commerce and industries Mir Abdul Ghafoor Lehri is under progress.

Among the 179 mega corruption cases, Bureau’s investigation against CDA officials and management of BNP Group in construction of Grand Hayatt Tower is also included. About the status of this case, the NAB states, “Matter is adjudicated in Hon’able Supreme Court of Pakistan”. Out of these 179 cases, so far there are only ten convictions including a few cases of conviction through plea bargain. There are almost 19 cases of acquittal so far.