ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to file two corruption references against former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and officials of Pakistan Railways and authorised three inquiries against the corrupt officials.
The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) decided to file two references. The meeting was chaired by NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, said a press release issued here on Thursday.
First reference would be filed against the former prime minister and minster for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf, former secretary, minister of Water & Power/ex-chairman Pakistan electric, Shahid Ran, former chairman PEPCO, Ismail Qureshi, former PEPCO MD Munawar Baseer Ahmad, former MD/chief executive officer (CEO) Tahir Basharat Cheema and Others in RPP case titled “M/S Techno Engineering Services (Pvt) Ltd, at Sammundri Road Faisalabad and Summundri Road extension.
In the case, the accused persons were allegedly misused authority, corruption and corrupt practices by conducting illegal/unauthorised International Competitive Bidding in violation of the NEPRA Act, illegal and non-transparent Award of Contract for extending financial benefits to Sponsors, illegal/unauthorised changes in terms of contract through revision of Letter of’ Award, in violation of advertised criteria.
Second reference was approved against the Pakistan Railway (PR) Chief Controller of Purchase, Zahoor Khattak, the then Pakistan Railway General Manager (Operation), Saeed Akhtar, the then Pakistan Railway Chief Controller of Stores (CCS) Sameeullah Khan, and Contractor/Proprietor of M/ Pak Steel Traders, Lahore Zeeshan Ahmad.
In the case, the accused persons were alleged for violation of Public Procurement Rules, 2004. Without advertising in the press, the officials of Pakistan Railways in connivance with the contra or namely M/s Pak Steel Traders, Lahore awarded contract for procurement of 500 million Tons Pig Iron to M/s Pak Steel Traders, Lahore, Thus using millions of rupees loss to the national exchequer. The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) decided to authorise three inquiries.
First inquiry was authorised against officers/officials of the Peshawar Agricultural Department and others including former MNA/Ex PMC chairman Arbab Saadullah Khan, former govt servant Saifullah Khan, Public Office Holder, former PMC chairman Usman Alam Jhagra, Public Office Holder I Ex-Vice Chairman PMC Malik Muhammad Ali Sohni and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for misappropriation, embezzlement of government funds in Plot. Scam of fruit and vegetable market in Peshawar thus causing loss of Rs.129.99 million to the national exchequer.
According to the press release, the second inquiry was authorised against officers/officials of University of Peshawar, former vice chancellor University of Peshawar Dr Azmat Hayat Khan, Ex-treasurer University of Peshawar Dr. Sana Ullah, Ex-Registrar University of Peshawar Sherin Zada Khattak, Ex-Dean Environmental Sciences Dr Shafiq ur Rehman, and Ex-Dean, Environmental Sciences University of Peshawar Dr Farrukh Hussain.
In this case, the accused persons were alleged for purchasing of land on exorbitant rates for Peshawar University Welfare Foundation and Campus-II of University of Peshawar at Azakhel Nowshera and thus causing loss of Rs; 100 million to the national exchequer.
Third inquiry was authorized against Officers/Officials of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Vice Chancellor (Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Dr Ihsan Ali, Registrar Wali Khan University Mardan Sher Ali and Director Wali Khan University Mardan Dr Muhammad Amin. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for irregularities in appointments in both teaching and nonteaching cadres as well as embezzlement in funds. They made more than 700 appointments without any codal formalities.
The EBM decided to constitute a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to conduct inquiry against NAB officers Muhammad Baqir Raza Kazmi and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for misuse of authority, hampering of evidence and abuse of process of law. The EBM also decided to authorize Complaint Verification (CV) in a case against former Chief Minister KP, MNA Amir Haider Khan Hoti regarding accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income.
The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) also decided closure of three inquiries against Ex-MNA Mrs. Naheed Khan, Ex-Managing Director PEPCO Tahir Basharat Cheema, & others and Ex-Chief Secretary KP Javed Iqbal due to lack of incriminating evidence. The EBM decided to allow NAB Lahore to complete post closure activities of a case against Ex-President of the Management of Canal Breeze Cooperative Housing Society Lahore Munawar Au Syed and others. The matter should also be referred to Registrar, Cooperative Department, Lahore, and Punjab where the liquidation is in process.
NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry reiterated his determination for eradication of corruption and corrupt practices by adopting holistic and proactive approach to check corruption and corrupt practices through Awareness, Prevention and Enforcement Strategy. He emphasised for making all efforts for arrest of corrupts, proclaimed offenders and absconders by utilizing all resources. He directed all officers/officials of NAB to put their best efforts in conduct of complaint verifications/ inquiries and investigations against corrupt in accordance with law, transparently and on merit.