Fake accounts case: Ex Sindh-CM appears before NAB

ISLAMABAD: Former Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Wednesday appeared before the Combined Investigation Team of the National Accountability Bureau Rawalpindi probing fake bank accounts scam to record his statement and answers related to sale of Dawood Sugar Mills and Thatta Sugar Mills to the Omni Group on cheap rates.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who a day before got a protective bail from the Islamabad High Court before his appearance before the Combined Investigation Team of the NAB Rawalpindi headed by Director General NAB Rawalpindi Irfan Mangi probing fake bank accounts, was interrogated for 40 minutes and answered the question with regard to two cases in which his name was mentioned.

According to NAB announcement issued after the appearance of Syed Qaim Ali Shah, the CIT of NAB Rawalpindi also handed him the questioners related to two cases of sale of Dawood Sugar Mills to Omni Group and provision of subsidy to sugar mills of Omni Group and asked him to reply these within 10-days of time.

The NAB announcement stated that the Combined Investigation team will review answers in light of relevant laws and decide about his further appearance.

While talking to newsmen after the appearance before the CIT of NAB Rawalpindi Syed Qaim Ali Shah said he did not understand yet the objective of the NAB to summon him as there was no mention of allegation against him in the notice which he received. “I had served the Sindh province as chief minister for 8-years and during that period not a single case was filed against him,” he said.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah accompanied Secretary General PPP Parliamentarians Farhatullah Babar in a press talk after his appearance before the NAB, said the CIT of NAB questioned him about the Thatta Sugar Mills and Dawood Sugar Mills and now they had asked me to appear gain on April 7.

Secretary General PPP Parliamentarians Farhatullah Babar said the NAB has turned into the political institution and was being used as a political arm of the government to twist the arms of the political opponents. “After the incident of suicide of Brig (R) Asad Munir the Chairman NAB has no justification to remain in his office,” he said.

He said the PPP will never bow before the political victimization as this kind of act has already experiences in the past also. Farhatullah Babar said the PPP founding Chairman Zulfkar Ali Bhutto was martyred in Rawalpindi and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was also martyred in Rawalpindi. “The cases of Asif Ali Zardari and Bialwal Bhutto Zardari were of Karachi but shifted to Rawalpindi and the PPP experience in Rawalpindi was never good,” he said.

It merits mentioning here that the CIT was conducting investigations under the direct supervision of chairman NAB. Meanwhile, the NAB spokesman said NAB believes in logical conclusion of cases and continues performing its duties to eradicate corruption without any pressure. He said the NAB reaffirms its commitment to protect self-esteem of every person who visits NAB and NAB does not want to hurt anyone.