Corruption cases: NAB to file petitions for early hearing against bail of accused

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (R) Javed Iqbal Thursday directed to file early hearing applications in respected accountability courts for pending cases and also against the bail of accused persons after receipt of certified copies of decisions in this regard.

The NAB high-level meeting chaired by Justice (R) Javed Iqbal also reviewed measures for the arrest of proclaimed offenders and absconders and decided to utilise all measures in this regard. The meeting was attended by deputy chairman, prosecutor general accountability, director general operations, DG Rawalpindi and all director generals of regional bureaus of the NAB through video link. The meeting reviewed progress on the ongoing inquiries/investigations of alleged mega corruption, white collar crime cases of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, former chief minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Hamza Shahbaz, Salman Shahbaz, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz, Ahad Cheema, Fawad Hassan Fawad, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal, Miftah Ismail, Imranul Haq Sheikh and others.

The meeting also reviewed progress in the investigations of alleged fake accounts against former president Asif Ali Zardari, Abdul Ghana Majeed, Anwar Majeed and others of Omni Group besides reviewing recovery of alleged looted money and depositing it in the national exchequer.

Progress in the investigations of 56 companies of Punjab and latest situation about recovery of alleged looted amount from CEOs of public limited companies and deposit in the national exchequer, progress on sugar and wheat scandals, especially embezzlement of wheat in Sindh and recovery of Rs10 billion, Kichi Canal, Gwadar Development Authority, progress in inquiries/investigations in 435 offshore companies against Saifullah brothers, Aleem Khan and others and mutual legal assistance applications sent to different countries, ongoing inquiries/investigations against Khyber Bank, Peshawar, Amir Muqam, Captain (R) Muhammad Safdar, former governor KP Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan, Akram Durrani and inquiries/investigation against alleged fake cooperative housing societies, Modarba/Musharka scams in which NAB has arrested 45 accused.

The meeting decided to conclude complaint verifications, inquiries and investigations within the prescribed timeframe and filing of early hearing applications in respected accountability courts besides filing appeals against the bails of accused persons after receipt of certified copies of decisions in this regard so that the cases could be taken to their logical end as per law.

Justice (R) Javed Iqbal said the NAB has already chalked our a three-pronged strategy comprising of awareness, prevention and enforcement to make Pakistan corruption free. He said the NAB has no affiliation with any political party as the Bureau is the national anti-corruption institution having affiliation only with state of Pakistan.