NAB okays inquiries

PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday authorised inquiries against officials of the Mines and Mineral Department, Tribal Electric Supply Company (Tesco) and Tourism Department.

The inquiries were approved in the Regional Board Meeting of the NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa held under the chairmanship of Farmanullah Khan, Director General NAB (KP). The meeting was attended by directors, deputy prosecutor general, case officers, and other concerned officers. As per the official communiqué, several important decisions were taken in the meeting. The board authorised an inquiry against officers and officials of Mimes and Mineral Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, about alleged corruption and corrupt practices. It was alleged in the board meeting that the accused persons were involved in illegal mining and causing huge loss to the national exchequer. Another inquiry was authorised against executive engineer, Fata Construction Division, Tesco and others about alleged corruption and misuse of authority. It was alleged that the accused person awarded five contracts to one contractor who did not qualify the eligibility criteria. Payments were made to the contractors without the execution of work. The board also authorized an inquiry against officers/officials of Pakhtunkhwa Highway Authority about alleged corruption and corrupt practices.

It was alleged that the accused persons embezzled 400 million in the compensation money for the affectees of Swat Express Way by changing measurements.

The board authorised a probe against officers of Tourism Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa about alleged corruption and corrupt practices.

It was alleged that the accused persons misappropriated Rs850 million in development funds by using substandard materials in hotels, roads, etc.