Chaudhry heads NAB executive board meeting

ISLAMABAD: The executive board meeting of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was held with Qamar Zaman Chaudhry in the chair at NAB Headquarters. The Executive Board (EB) decided to file corruption references against Syed Asif Akhtar Hashmi, Ex-Chairman Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for illegal investment with Highlink Capital (Pvt) Limited, Thus causing a loss of Rs 1.3 billion to the national exchequer. The executive board decided to authorize four (4) investigations. The first investigation was authorized against director/guarantors of M/s Umair Steel Industries (Pvt) Ltd, Lahore and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for willful loan default referred by state Bank of Pakistan (SBP) under section 31-D of NAO-1999. Thus causing a loss of Rs 52.290 million to the national exchequer. Second investigation was authorized against management of M/s Power Pack Company and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for willful loan default referred by state Bank of Pakistan (SBP) under section 31-D of NAO-1999. Thus caused a loss of Rs. 164.826 million to the national exchequer. Third investigation was authorized against Abdul Rauf Khoso, MPA (PS-18) and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for misuse of authority and assets beyond known sources of income and misappropriation of Govt Land in connivance with officers/officials of Revenue Department, District Kashmore at Kandhkot. Causing a loss of Rs 550 million to the national exchequer. Fourth investigation was authorized against Saeed Ahmed Jagrani, Ex-Director NARA Canal (SIDA) Mirpurkhas and others, officers/officials of NASRAT Division, Irrigation Department, Sindh and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for misuse of authority, illegal appointments and substandard work of stone pitching at NASRAT Canal. Resulting in a loss of Rs. 9 billion to the national exchequer. The Executive Board (EB) decided to authorize two (02) inquiries. First inquiry was authorized against M/s Knowledge Kinetic Programme (KKP) Pvt Limited Lahore, officers/officials of WAPDA and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for irregularities in construction of Mangla Dam Raising Project (MDRP). Thus caused a loss of Rs 4 billion to the national exchequer. Second inquiry was authorized against officers/officials of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for accusation of the shares of MND Exploration and Production Limited by Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) at exorbitant rates in year 2012. This venture caused a loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer. The Executive Board decided to re-authorize an investigation against Inayatullah, FGS/Incharge PRC Sarib Quetta Authorities of Food Department and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for corruption and corrupt practices, embezzlement of wheat Bags from PRC Sariab Quetta during the year 2014-15. Thus caused a loss of Rs 278.70 million to the national exchequer. The Executive Board decided to re-authorize an inquiry against Noor Muhammad Laghari, former Secretary Special Education Department, Govt of Sindh and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for illegal recruitment, misuse of funds allocated for the purchase of uniforms and daily allowances of disabled persons. Thus caused a loss of Rs. 250 million to the national exchequer. The Executive Board decided to close cases against Asad Qaiser, Speaker Provincial Assembly KP and Syed iftikhar Hussain Shah, MNA Sialkot due to lack of incriminating evidence. At the end, Mr. Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, Chairman NAB said that NAB is committed to eradicate corruption by adopting Zero Tolerance Policy. He directed all officers/officials of NAB to put in their best efforts in conduct of complaint verification, inquiries and investigations against corrupt in accordance with law, transparently and on merit.      Published in Daily Times, September 14th 2017.