Clarification

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has clarified the article of Babar Sattar published at the Editorial Page in daily The News, May 5, 2018 titled “with us or against us?” and news of Ansar Abbasi published in daily The News regarding Imtiaz Inayat Illahi and termed it totally incorrect, says a NAB press release.

Conveying such kind of impression to the public through incorrect reporting and posing mere allegations against transparent working of NAB is unfair and is a malicious campaign against NAB who believes in across the board accountability which has been acknowledged by reputable and independent, national and international organisations such as Pildat, Transparency International and World Economic Forum.

Brief facts of the case are that “Construction of Cultural Complex at Shakarparian” Islamabad was a self-financed project duly approved by CDA DWP, being the competent forum, in its 13th meeting on 17-01-2007. All codal formalities including Feasibility Study, Capital Cost Estimates, Annual O&M Cost, Financial Plan, Mode of Financing, Project Benefits & analysis of financial / economic / social benefits & indicators, employment generation, environmental impact, impact of delays on project cost and viability, etc, were discussed at length in the PC-I of the project that was duly examined & approved by CDA DWP. Hence, initial planning & approval of the project was not ill-conceived or ill-planned.

As per NAB investigation, execution work of the project was commenced on 27-12-2007 which continued till 26-08-2009 without any financial/operational hindrance & liability. The accused Imtiaz Inayat Ilahi took charge as Chairman CDA in June 2009. He visited the site of the project and ordered for stoppage of work and execution work at the Cultural Complex in 2009.

The accused Imtiaz Inayat Ilahi, in the capacity of Chairman CDA, was not competent to take such decision unilaterally that too without assigning any cogent reason. The decision of accused Imtiaz Inayat Ilahi former Chairman CDA for stoppage of Construction of Cultural Complex at Shakarparian” Islamabad project was, illegal, malafide and unilateral, arbitral and in contravention of the notification by ECNEC and guidelines by Planning Commission for self-financed projects like the Cultural Complex Project, resulting into the wasteful expenditure of Rs471 million directly and may also result in a further huge loss to state exchequer in the form of claims and liabilities.

The Executive Board in its meeting held on April 20, 2018 decided to file a reference in Accountability Court, Islamabad. The Reference against accused Imtiaz Inayat Ilahi former Chairman CDA for illegal stoppage of Construction of Cultural Complex at Shakarparian” Islamabad project will soon be filed. NAB has ample and solid evidence as to prosecute him in Accountability Court, Islamabad.

NAB hopes that in the true spirit of responsible journalism, an effort would always be made to verify the authenticity of the case before going to print by the management of The News.