NAB okays references on corruption allegations

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Board of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday gave a green signal to file a corruption reference against former prime minister Shaukat Aziz and ex-minister for water and power Liaquat Jatoai, who is now senior leader of the PTI for abuse of power on appointing a consultant that caused a loss of Rs21.6 million to the national exchequer.

The NAB Executive Board also approved investigations against the Metro Bus Project, Multan, allegedly for illegal purchase of land and illegal awarding of the contract. The meeting of the NAB board was held on Wednesday with its Chairman Justice (R) Javed Iqbal in the chair in which various complaints verification, inquiries and investigations were approved.

The NAB Board approved filing of reference against ex-prime minister Shaukat Aziz, ex-minister for water and power Liaquat Jatoi, ex-secretary Ministry of Water and Power, Ismail Qureshi, Additional Secretary Ministry of Water and Power Muhammad Yousaf Memon, ex-Joint Secretary Ghulam Nabi Mangerio, former Joint Secretary, Ministry of Water and Power, Umer Farooq, former Section Officer, Ministry of Water and Power, Air Marshal (R) Shahid Hamid, former Chairman Alternate Energy Board, Naseem Akhtar Khan, Former Secretary AEDB, Arif Allauddin, former Chief Executive AEDB and Basharat Hassan Bashir, former Consultatnt, AEDB.

They have been accused of illegally appointing Basharat Hassan Bashir as consultant in abuse of authority, which caused losses up to Rs21.6 million. The NAB board authorised investigations against officers of CDA, Messers Pak Line Estate Company Private Limited and others. They have been accused of illegally allotting Forest department land to Park Line Estate Company Private Limited, which caused huge loss to national exchequer. The board has authorised closing of inquiry against Managing Director, National Fertilizer Marketing Limited, Tariq Shafi Khan; General Manager Fakhar Zaman Ali Cheema at NAB end and decided to send the matter to relevant ministry for appropriate departmental level scrutiny and action on illegal appointments.