BRT case against Khattak, CS Shah closed

NAB dropped investigations against individuals for whom no substantial evidence of wrongdoing was found

By Arshad Aziz Malik
March 26, 2025
Buses are seen parked at a terminal of the newly-built Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), a rapid bus transit system running along an east-west corridor, during a test-run in Peshawar on August 5, 2020. — AFP/File
Buses are seen parked at a terminal of the newly-built Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), a rapid bus transit system running along an east-west corridor, during a test-run in Peshawar on August 5, 2020. — AFP/File

PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Peshawar has decided to close proceedings against several key figures including advisor to PM Pervaiz Khattak and Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah in the alleged corruption case related to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Peshawar project, while investigations will continue against some individuals.

After a detailed review in the Executive Board Meeting (EBM), the NAB chairman, in consultation with legal experts, approved the closure of several cases and referred some for further proceedings.

The NAB Peshawar, in its letter No. 1/34/1153/IW-I/NAB(KP) dated March 13, 2025, addressed to the Director General, Peshawar Development Authority (PDA), said, NAB has closed investigations against former chief minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak, former chief secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Abid Saeed, incumbent Chief Secretary and the than Secretary of Planning & Development (P&D) Shahab Ali Shah, Imran Latif, contractor Amir Latif, contractor Syed Masood Hussain Shah, sub-contractor Sheikh Mian Muhammad Younas, sub-contractor Muhammad Ayub Sheikh, contractor Zhang Cheng, contractor Xiao Huaping, and contractor Gao Jian.

Additionally, NAB has also dropped investigations against individuals for whom no substantial evidence of wrongdoing was found. These include Fayyaz Ahmad Khan (CEO TransPeshawar), Safdar Shabbir Awan (CFO TransPeshawar), Waqas Saliheen (BDO, Directorate of Transport), Muhammad Imran Khan (GM Operations, TransPeshawar), CEO Atif Raees Khan of M/s LMKR (contractor, ITS), M/s Beijing Santel Technology & Trading Corporation through Wujian (contractor, ITS), and M/s Beijing E-Huala Information Technology Co. Ltd through Li Xin (contractor, ITS).

NAB has referred cases against Ahsan Rafiq (CEO- TIBL) and Mamoon Ur Rasheed (Non-Executive Director, TIBL) to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) for further action, as they were involved in forwarding guarantees from the Bank of West Indies (BWI) to the PDA despite a ban imposed by SECP.

Investigations will continue against those accused of irregularities in awarding consultancy contracts and making excessive payments to M/s MMP beyond the contract’s specified ceiling.