NAB expedites inquiry into Metro Bus project ‘scam’

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has paced up the inquiry on the complaint regarding procurement of elevators for the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Project while writing a letter to commercial banks and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to provide the bank accounts of the members of the Metro Bus Project Committee including PML-N leaders Hanif Abbassi and Shakeel Awan besides two officials Rawalpindi former commissioner and Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) chairman.

NAB chief Qamar Zaman Chaudhry took cognizance of a complaint lodged six months ago regarding procurement of elevators for the Metro Bus Project and directed to carry out a thorough inquiry into the tendering process for procurement of elevators in the light of laid down rules and procurement procedures.

It has been alleged in the complaint that inferior quality elevators had been procured at an exorbitant price and against Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) criteria for pre-qualification of firms.

The chairman directed the NAB division concerned to inquire the matter expeditiously and ensure that no national funds had been wasted in the subject project.

When contacted, NAB spokesman confirmed the complaint verification and said that the NAB received the complaint against the project and it started the complaint verification process.

However, he said it was premature to say anything about the involvement of any one as the complaint verification was still going on. “If needed, the NAB will provide opportunity to everyone to clear his position as it is NAB policy that no one be accused until heard,” he told The News.

When Contacted, PML-N leader Hanif Abassi, who headed the Implementation Committee of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Project, said the NAB had started the inquiry six months ago on the anonymous complaint. “Though it is against the law to take notice on anonymous application but I am ready to face it and to give the details each and every thing of the Metro Bus Project,” he said.

He said the NAB had written a letter to the banks seeking details of the individuals’ accounts. If they approached him, he would provide the details of his accounts as the project was transparent.

Asked whether the NAB approached him or sent any notice to him, Hanif Abbassi said he did not receive anything from the NAB yet.

He said the Implementation Committee of Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Project constituted after three months of commencement of tendering process and he had no link with the financial matters of the project.