Suspicious transactions: NAB gets evidence against Siraj, Waseem, Jatoi, Talpur

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has got fresh evidence of suspicious transactions against the Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar, PTI senior leader Liaquat Jatoi and ex-federal minister and PPP senior leader Nawab Yousaf Talpur.

The NAB Executive Board met here on Thursday with Chairman Justice (R) Javed Iqbal in the chair.

The board approved the filing of references and conducting investigations and inquiries against different personalities for corruption, amassing resources beyond known income by abusing authority, inflicting phenomenal losses on the national kitty.

The board authorized filing of corruption references against former adviser to the prime minister Mehtab Ahmed Khan, former secretary Aviation Division Erfan Elahi, former chairman PIAC Musharraf Rasool, Muhammad Ali Tabba and others. They have been accused of appointing Musharraf Rasool as chairman PIAC in violation of rules, inflicting significant losses on the national exchequer. The board also authorised corruption reference against former chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) Kamran Ali Qureshi, former estate member CDA Asad Munir, former director estate Khalid Mehmood and others.

They have been accused of illegal restoration of a plot situated in F-11 by misusing their authority inflicting heavy losses on the national kitty.

The board approved two inquiries against former secretary communication and works department, Balochistan Ghulam Muhammad and officers, officials of Provincial Highway Division, District Sanghar, Sindh and others. The board authorised investigations against former director general (DG) Larkana Development Authority Asghar Sheikh, and others. Likewise, the board also approved three corruption references against former health minister Gilgit-Baltistan Haji Gulzar Khan, former conservator Gilgit Forest Department Muhammad Zamurrad Khan, Haji Nadeem Khan, Abdus Samad, Muhammad Qasim, principal medical officer and others. They have been accused of illegally issuing passes to seven contractors allowing them cutting forests and not receiving any fine by abusing their authority thus inflicting Rs45.73 million losses on the national exchequer.

The EBM approved closing of inquiry against Dost Muhammad Rahimmo, former provincial minister for Zakat and Usher, Sindh, and others due to lack of incriminating evidence.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Justice (R) Javed Iqbal said corruption was the mother of all evils hindering the country’s development. NAB is strictly pursuing the policy of accountability for all by adopting zero tolerance, he added. He said the NAB’s foremost priority was the logical conclusion of mega corruption cases. “The NAB has the first and last affiliation with the state of Pakistan,” he said.

He directed all DGs of NAB to conduct complaint verification, inquiries and investigations and bring them to their logical conclusion within the stipulated time frame of 10 months.

Meanwhile, the NAB spokesman said the bureau had a policy to share the details of decisions made by EBM with the public from several years and the main aim of sharing decisions was not to hurt or insult anyone.

The NAB’s spokesman said the inquiries, investigations were being initiated on alleged allegations and therefore allegations must not be considered as final.

“The final decision about initiating proceedings will be taken after knowing the points of view of both sides as per law,” he said while clarifying the decisions of the Executive Board.