ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday approved another corruption reference against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The reference pertains to the alleged illegal construction of a two-way road from Raiwind to the Sharif family house in Jati Umra in year 2000. The construction of the road caused a loss of Rs125 million to the national exchequer, according to NAB. The decision was taken at a meeting of the accountability watchdog’s executive board chaired by NAB Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal, according to statement issued by the organisation. The board also approved an investigation in relation to the Nandipur power project in which former minister Babar Awan, former minister for water and power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and others are nominated for allegedly causing a delay in the project, due to which the national exchequer incurred a loss of Rs113 billion.
The board directed to file reference against former chairman Pakistan Tobacco Board Sahibzada Khalid for inflicting millions of rupees loss to the national exchequer through illegal appointments.
Another reference would be filed against former chairman Evacuee Trust Property Board Asif Hashmi for abuse of authority in allotment of 450 plots thus causing billions of rupee losses to the exchequer. Over misuse of power and illegal allotment of government land, the meeting approved to start investigation against former Member National Assembly from NA-176 Sultan Mehmud Hinjra and others.
The meeting approved investigations against former prime minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and others over allegations of appointing Managing Director Syndic Metals Limited Razaq Sanjrani in violation of law and bringing financial loss of Rs 17.70 million.
It also approved investigation against former minister for Communications Dr Arbab Alamgir and former Member National Assembly Asma Arbab for having assets beyond known sources of income. Their assets have been told as Rs 2.486 billion while they have not answered about having hundreds of millions of rupees in foreign banks. The board approved investigation against former chief minister of Balochistan over allegations of receiving compensation of Rs 1817 million from provincial government which he distributed among his relatives.
The meeting gave approval to investigation against former Member National Assembly Ghulam Haider Thind, former commissioner Dera Ghazi Khan Fiaz Bashir and officials of the revenue department for bringing loss of Rs 600 million to national kitty through misuse of power.
The meeting approved reference of corruption against former vice chancellor of Federal Urdu University Dr Zafar Iqbal. He has been accused of misuse of authority and embezzlement in government funds while bringing a loss of Rs 102.24 million.
Published in Daily Times, December 28th 2017.
