NAB initiates inquiry against Senator Osman Saifullah, family

PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday formally initiated an inquiry against Senator Osman Saifullah Khan and his family members about accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income.

The inquiry was initiated on the direction of NAB Chairman Justice (R) Javed Iqbal. As per an official communiqué, the NAB KP authorised the inquiry about billions of rupees assets against the Pakistan People’s Party senator and his family members namely Anwar Saifullah, Salim Saifullah, Humayum Saifullah, Iqbal Saifullah, Javed Saifullah, Jehangir Saifullah and others.

"They are allegedly involved in accumulating assets beyond their known sources of income having 34 offshore companies in Panama, British Virgin Island and Seychelles," the NAB KP claimed. NAB KP Director General Brig (R) Farooq Naser Awan was quoted as saying that the inquiry would be conducted in a transparent manner and the culprits would be punished as per the law.

The NAB inquiry is against one of the most high-profile families active in both politics and business. Most of the Saifullah brothers have served as lawmakers and ministers and are associated with parties ranging from the PPP to the PML-N and PTI.

Earlier, the NAB KP had initiated a probe against another high-profile personality. The probe focused on Captain (R) Muhammad Safdar, Member National Assembly from Mansehra and son-in-law of deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. A NAB statement had noted that the probe against Safdar was ordered by the NAB Chairman Justice retd Javed Iqbal. The NAB had termed it Rs 2 billion corruption case.