ISLAMABAD: The Executive Board of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday approved filing of corruption references against ex-MD of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) Azeem Iqbal Siddiqui, ex-chairman Finance Committee Shahid Aziz Siddiqui, General Manager Finance Malik Usman and others for hiring the services from M/s Progas Pvt Ltd allegedly in violation of PPRA rules and without examining the technical and financial capability that caused a loss of Rs1.174 billion to the national exchequer.
The meeting of the Executive Board, chaired by the NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, also approved an inquiry against chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) Pir Pagara Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi and officials of the Board of Revenue Korangi, Karachi, for alleged illegal allotment of government plot to a private person by misusing authority. This alleged illegal allotment of government plot in Defence View Society, Karachi, as well as illegal construction on the state land caused a loss of Rs212 million to the national exchequer.
The NAB also approved investigation against ex-Member Estate Capital Development Authority Brigadier (retd) Asad Munir, ex-Director Estate CDA Khalid Mehmood Mirza, ex-Financial Adviser CDA Ziaur Rehman and other officials of CDA for allegedly misusing the authority and involvement in restoration of plot No. 20 in F-11/1 Islamabad that caused a loss of millions of rupees to national exchequer. Inquiry was also approved against ex-IG Balochistan Abdul Qadeer Bhatti for allegedly having assets beyond known sources of income.
Approval was given for launching an investigation against department of local government of Sindh for alleged illegal recruitment of 12,810 persons in grade 1 to 15. The Executive Board also gave approval for initiating an inquiry against officials of C&W Department of the KP government and M/s Mecatech Pvt Ltd and others for allegedly awarding a contract to M/s Mecatech Pvt Ltd in violation of rules, and supply of sub-standard air conditioner in Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar that caused a loss of Rs2.43 billion to national exchequer.
The officers and staff of Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, will be investigated over allegations of embezzlement in construction funds of the university. The NAB also approved inquiry against the chief executive of Qesco, officials of Qesco and M/s Alnasir Agriculture Foundry Works allegedly for electricity theft that caused a loss of Rs29.612 million to national exchequer. Another inquiry has been approved against Chief Engineer/Project Director Foreign Aid Works and Service Department, Hyderabad, Sindh, Akbar Shah Rashidi, for alleged embezzlement of funds.
The Bureau decided to refer the case against the principal of Pakistan International School, Jeddah, and ex-senator Sehar Kamran to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to decide her case as per law. It also decided to refer the inquiry against Khadim Hussain Bhatti to IGP Punjab. The Executive Board also decided to close inquiries against Ms Zafairs Textile Mills Limited, Lahore, Humayun Naseer Shaikh, Ahsan Humayun Shaikh, Port Qasim Authority, Ministry of Industries, officers/officials of SSGCL, former district nazim Sibi Mir Ali Mardan Khan Domki and Ahmed Hamayun Shaikh. Justice Javed Iqbal said during the meeting that elimination of corruption was must as it is a cancer.
He directed the NAB officers to utilise their energies for making Pakistan corruption free. He directed all ranks of NAB officers to take the inquiries, investigations and complaint verification to logical conclusion within the prescribed time frame as per law. He said NAB was strictly adhering to the policy of accountability for all as the Bureau has first and last affiliation with the country only.
