Builder arrested on Rs9b corruption charges

PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa arrested accused Jameel Ahmad Jan, CEO M/s Jan Builder, Peshawar, for allegedly causing a loss of approximately Rs9 billion to the national exchequer through alleged corruption and corrupt practices.

An official communiqué said that during the course of investigation, it was revealed that as per Import Policy 2016, import of used vehicles for more than five years was completely banned.

However, accused Jameel Ahmad Jan, being importer, in connivance with officials of Customs Dry Port, Peshawar, and JS Bank Karachi planned to clear 1450 construction machinery illegally and in violation of applicable rules.

The accused persons, while in connivance with each other, illegally managed to clear 488 old machinery worth over Rs 600 million as assessed by the department, said the communique, adding, the market value of the same is more than Rs.3 billion. In this way, it said, a colossal loss of more than Rs9 billion has been caused to the government exchequer.

Shahid Akbar, principal appraiser, Abdul Hadi, appraiser, and Hidayatullah, appraiser of Customs Dry Port, Peshawar, and Muhammad Arafat Vice-President JS Bank, Karachi, have already been arrested in the instant case and their bail application has been rejected by the courts.