New NAB references against Sharif brothers

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Board of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday approved the filing of another reference in the accountability court against ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif for constructing a double road from Raiwind to the house of Sharif family at Jati Umra, which allegedly caused a loss of over Rs125 million to the national exchequer.

Besides filing a reference against the Sharif brothers, two former prime ministers of the PPP -- Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf -- ex-chief minister Balochistan Nawab Aslam Raisani, ex-communication minister Dr Arbab Alamgir and his spouse Asma Alamgir and senior leader of the PTI Babar Awan also came under the radar of NAB with initiation of investigations against them.

The NAB Executive Board’s meeting chaired by Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal also decided to launch investigations and filing of references against ex-secretary Law Ministry Masood Chisti, ex-secretary Water and Power Ministry Shahid Rafi and ex-director Ijaz Bashir for allegedly delaying the Nandipur Hydel Power Project that caused a loss of over Rs113 billion to the national exchequer.

Investigation against Yusuf Raza Gilani has been launched for appointing Muhammad Razzaq Sanjrani as managing director of Sandak Metals Limited in violation of rules and misuse of power that caused a loss of Rs17.7 million to the national exchequer.

Investigation against Arbab Alamgir and his wife has been approved for having assets beyond known sources of income and both had accumulated assets of over Rs2.486 billion. They have not even provided the accounts of millions of rupees which were deposited in banks of foreign countries.

NAB approved investigations against Aslam Raisani for receiving compensation of over Rs1,817 million from the Balochistan government, which he allegedly distributed among his relatives.

The NAB Executive Board also gave approval to file a reference against ex-chairman Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Syed Asif Hashmi for alleged illegal allotment of plots and misuse of power that caused a loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer.

Another corruption reference would also be filed against ex-chairman Wapda Tariq Hameed and others for alleged misuse of power for approval of 136 million watt rental power project in violation of PPRA and Nepra rules that caused a loss of billions of rupees to the national exchequer.

A corruption reference was also approved against ex-chairman Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB) Sahibzada Khalid for misuse of powers to make illegal appointments.

Filing of reference was also approved against ex-secretary Labour Department Sindh Nasar Hayat and others for misuse of powers and purchase of 200 acres of land on expensive rates that caused a loss of Rs275.4 million to the national exchequer.

Investigations will also be launched against Adviser to KP chief minister Sikandar Aziz and officials of Department of Rehabilitation, Peshawar, for illegal occupation of government land and their illegal transfers that caused a loss of Rs40 million to the national exchequer.

NAB also approved launching of investigations against ex-secretary Department of Local Bodies KP and currently Additional Secretary Revenue Department, FBR Hamad Owais Agha, ex-secretary Department of Local Bodies KP and currently Managing Director Frontier Education Foundation Hafzur Rehman, officials of the department and chief executive of M/s Ideal Hydrotech System and its director for embezzlement of funds of 1,159 water filtration plants under the clean water project of KP government that caused a loss of Rs800 million to the national exchequer.

Investigations were also approved against ex-secretary Workers Welfare Board Balochistan Mumtaz Ali Khan and others for misuse of powers and purchase of substandard medical equipment’s for Kidney Centre, Quetta.

Ex-MNA Ghulam Haider Thind, ex-commissioner Dera Ghazi Khan Fayyaz Bashir and officials of Revenue Department will also come under probe for alleged misuse of power and embezzlement. Ex-MNA Sultan Mehmood Hinjar will also face a probe for alleged illegal allotment of government land.

Director of M/s T&N Pakistan Private Limited Faisalabad Riaz Ahmed Chawla and others have also come under NAB's radar for being defaulters of the Punjab Bank and not returning the amount of Rs1.539 billion to the bank.

A corruption reference was also approved against ex-vice chancellor of Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology Dr Zafar Iqbal for misuse of powers and embezzlement of government funds that caused a loss of Rs102.24 million to the national exchequer.

Inquiry was also ordered against Nadeem Zia, Shama Nadeem, Razia Parveen, Saadi Parveen, Munir Zia, Umar Zia, Khalid Hussain and Sajid Hussain, who have been alleged for suspicious transaction report (STR) referred by the State Bank of Pakistan.

Another STR referred by the State Bank has named Nadeem Ahmed for alleged suspicious transaction.

The board also approved the inquiry against officials of the Department of Revenue Sindh and Chairman Summit Bank Limited Nasser Lootah for alleged illegal allotment of 5,222 acres of government land that caused a loss of billions of rupees to the national exchequer.

Ex-chief executive of KASB Bank Nasir Ali Shah Bokhari and others have also come under NAB's radar for allegedly causing loss of Rs103.5 million to the national exchequer. Ex-chairman NICL Ayaz Khan Niazi and others will also face probe.