ISLAMABAD: The Executive Board of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday approved an inquiry against ex-IGFC Balochistan Lt Gen (retd) Obaidullah Khan and Brig (retd) Asad Shehzad on a report of alleged suspicious transaction.
The meeting of the Executive Board of the NAB was headed by Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal on Thursday, which approved various references, inquiries and investigations against various persons accused in corruption, misuse of authority and doling out benefits to favourites.
After the meeting, the NAB made it clear that complaints are being verified against the accused under a transparent procedure. It said the Bureau will provide ample opportunity to all concerned for presenting their points of view and after that, if needed, legal proceedings will be carried out against the accused as per law.
The NAB approved an inquiry against the procurement committee of the Balochistan government and other officials for the purchase of MI-171E helicopters allegedly on exorbitant rates that caused a loss of the millions of rupees to the national exchequer.
The Board also approved an inquiry against ex-provincial minister of Balochistan Jaffar George for alleged misuse of authority and involvement in corruption. Another inquiry was approved against Sardar Atif Khan Mazari, MPA, for alleged illegal occupation of the government land worth of millions of rupees.
The Board also approved an inquiry against ex-DIG Larakana Sain Rakhio Meerani and others for allegedly having assets beyond known source of income. The Board approved filing of corruption reference against chief executive Officer of the PIDC and others for illegally purchasing land, while misusing the authority. The Board also approved investigation against officials of the Sindh Department of Health and owners /directors of M/s Zalmad Solutions for misappropriation in purchase of medical equipment, while misusing of authority that caused a loss of Rs377 million to the national exchequer.
The Executive Board also approved an investigation against the vice chancellor of Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, and other officials of the university for alleged misappropriation in the purchase of 161 vehicles and in petrol fund of the university that caused a loss of millions of rupees. Inquiry against chief executive officer M/s Baham Associates (Pvt) Ltd was also approved for alleged involvement in money laundering of billions of rupees through offshore companies. Inquiry against officials of Sindh’s Department of Revenue, Department of Land Utilisation Sindh and M/s Fazaiya Housing Scheme Karachi was approved on the allegations of illegal allotment of land to M/s Fazaiya Housing Scheme, Karachi.
Another inquiry was approved against Director (F&F), University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, Naik Muhammad, and others for alleged misappropriation in the purchase of equipment that caused a loss of Rs3.2 billion. Inquiry was also approved against Qari Zulfiqar Ali Sialvi, broker, and Haji Abdul Ghafoor, New Model Town Daska, for allegedly cheating the people.
On the conclusion of the meeting, Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal said corruption is a cancer which should be eliminated. He said the elimination of corruption is the responsibility of the NAB officers and they should burn their midnight oil for fulfilling their responsibilities for making the country corruption free.
Meanwhile, the NAB Rawalpindi arrested former secretary Ministry of Information Technology Farooq Awan in a case of investigation against him and others about alleged misuse of authority to give illegal benefits to M/S Midas. Farooq Awan allegedly misused his authority in award of illegal publicity campaign through M/s Midas Pvt Ltd in violation of rules and thus caused loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer.
Director General NAB Rawalpindi Irfan Naeem Mangi said that in light of the directions of Chairman NAB Justice (retd) Javad Iqbal, NAB is making all-out efforts to arrest the corrupt and recover looted money. He said that the chairman NAB has categorically directed officers/officials of all ranks to proactively pursue corruption cases as per NAB’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) and rules, transparently and on merit and take necessary measures to arrest corrupt elements in order to eradicate corruption from the country.
