Corruption cases under Rs500m not closing down

ISLAMABAD: After the Supreme Court five-member larger bench announced its decision in NAB amendment case setting aside its earlier verdict, rumours were making the rounds about status of various corruption references allegedly involving some political figures.

Talking to journalists at Adiala Jail, former prime minister Imran Khan said that he should be happy with this decision as cases against him regarding Toshakhana reference as well as 190 million pounds case would automatically come to an end. The current head of his party, Gohar Ali Khan, has also tried to cheer up the disillusioned party workers by giving similar pleasantries.

When the matter is closely examined, it becomes clear that in the light of the decision NAB’s jurisdiction over corruption cases below Rs500 million has ended. But it’s not true that the cases below Rs500 million had come to an end.

Under the NAB (Amendment) Act, 2022, corruption cases below the limit of Rs500 million would automatically be referred to the relevant corruption authority, and through the relevant Anti-Corruption Establishment, from where they would be transferred to the courts.

In Toshakhana reference, NAB alleged that on May 7 to 10, 2021, when Imran Khan made an official visit to Saudi Arabia as the prime minister, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman presented first lady Bushra Bibi with jewelry made in Bulgaria (a pair of rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings) valued at Rs3,28,51,300 as gifts which were not deposited to the Toshakhana.

So far as the £190 million scandal reference is concerned, when 190 million pounds are changed into local currency at rate of Rs366.98 per pound the figure becomes to Rs69.726 billion. So the cases would remain within the purview of NAB and accountability court.

On the other hand, Toshakhana references against President Asif Ali Zardari, former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif and former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, LNG reference against former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Rental Power reference against and former prime minister and National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf and NAB references against many other politicians and businessmen would be transferred to the Anti-Corruption Establishment and its respective courts in shape of criminal cases of corruption.Meanwhile, NAB would work out the cases that to be send to different departments concerned and also to relevant courts.

According to NAB sources, most of the cases will be transferred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and relevant anti-corruption establishments.

Sources in NAB stated that the cases worth less than Rs500 million would also be referred to the FIA.

As per NAB sources, around 755 cases at the inquiry stage as well as 292 cases at the investigation state would be affected under the NAB amendments.

The sources said out of those, 510 cases are those where the amount involved is less than Rs500 million while some 168 cases relate to the offence of assets beyond means will be affected under restored amendments in NAB law, similarly, 89 cases are related to cheating will be affected.

They said the nature of the allegations in the cases will be decided on a case-by-case basis.