NAB initiates inquiry against Capt Safdar’s assets

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday initiated two cases of complaint verification against the PML-N leader Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar for allegedly having assets beyond known source of income and getting Rs9 billion development funds under the Prime Minister’s Programme of Sustainable Development Goals.

The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Chairman NAB Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal at the NAB Headquarters here. The complaint against Safdar states that he owns 300 kanals of land in Mansehra, a 30 kanal plot, a one kanal house, a flour mills in Township, Mansehra, and other assets.

Another case of complaint verification approved against him was alleged illegal transfer of Rs9 billion funds for him by the Cabinet Division under the Prime Minister’s programme of Sustainable Development Goals. Justice Javed gave approval for writing a letter to the Interior Ministry to put the names of Ahmed Humayun Sheikh and Ali Jahangir Siddiqui on the Exit control List with regard to an ongoing inquiry against M/s Azgard Nine Limited and M/S Agritech Limited.

The NAB had also started an investigation against Capt Safdar in January for ‘unfair’ awarding contracts of Rs3 billion development schemes in violation of rules and regulations.

In January, the NAB received a complaint against Safdar that he awarded contracts of Rs3 billion development schemes to contractors of his choice in violation of rules and later on allegedly misappropriated Rs2 billion through fake development schemes.

Addressing the meeting, Justice Javed said corruption was a cancer that was eating most of the resources of country. “The NAB is absolutely committed to eradicating corruption at all costs in the country, he said.

“Today, officers have been directed to nab the corrupt and recover the hard-earned looted money of innocent people, as fight against corruption is our national duty,” he said. He said the NAB had adopted a proactive strategy to check corruption at all levels with an iron hand.

“The NAB has prescribed 10-month time frame for efficient, effective and expeditious disposal of all cases from complaint verification to filling of reference with the Accountability Court which should be strictly adhered to. No leniency will be tolerated in this regard,” he directed.