Islamabad - The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday decided to file another corruption reference against former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, ex-secretary Water and Power Shahid Rafi and others in the Rental Power Plant (RPP) case. The NAB EBM was held under Chairmanship of Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, Chairman NAB, at the NAB Headquarters. The chairman NAB directed the officials to make all-out efforts for arrest of corrupts, proclaimed offenders and absconders by utilising all resources.
The EBM decided to file two corruption references. First against Raja Pervez Ashraf, ex-prime minister, Shahid Rafi, ex-secretary Ministry of Water and Power, Ismail Qureshi, ex-chairman PEPCO, Munawar Baseer Ahmad, ex-MD PEPCO, Tahir Basharat Cheema, ex-MD/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and others in RPP case titled ‘M/S Techno Engineering Services (Pvt) Ltd’ at Sammundri Road, Faisalabad and Summundri Road extension. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for misuse of authority and corrupt practices by conducting unauthorised international competitive bidding in violation of NEPRA Act, illegal and non-transparent award of contract for extending financial benefits to sponsors, illegal changes in terms of contract through revision of Letter of Award in violation of advertised criteria.
Second Reference was approved against Zahoor Khattak, former chief controller of Purchase Pakistan Railway, Saeed Akhtar, former general manager (Operation) Pakistan Railways, Sameeullah Khan, former chief Controller of Stores (CCS) Pakistan Railways, and Zeeshan Ahmad, Contractor of M/s Pak Steel Traders, Lahore. In this 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 contractor namely M/s Pak Steel Traders, Lahore awarded contract for procurement of 500 million tonnes Pig Iron to M/s Pak Steel Traders, Lahore, causing millions of rupees loss to the national exchequer.
The EBM authorised three inquiries. First inquiry was authorised against the officials of Agricultural Department, Peshawar and others namely Arbab Saadullah Khan, ex-MNA, Saifullah Khan, ex-government servant, Usman Alam Jhagra, Public Office Holder/ex-chairman PMC, Malik Muhammad Ali Sohni, Public Office Holder/ Ex-Vice Chairman PMC and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for misappropriation, embezzlement of government funds in plot scam of fruit and vegetable market, Peshawar, causing loss of Rs129.99 million to the national exchequer.
Second inquiry was authorised against officials of University of Peshawar namely Dr Azmat Hayat Khan, ex-VC University of Peshawar, Dr Sana Ullah, ex-treasurer University of Peshawar, Sherin Zada Khattak, ex-registrar University of Peshawar, Dr Shafiq ur Rehman, ex-dean Environmental Sciences and Dr Farrukh Hussain, ex-dean, Environmental Sciences University of Peshawar. 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, causing loss of Rs100 million to the national exchequer. Third inquiry was authorised against Officers of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan namely Dr Ihsan Ali, Vice Chancellor of Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Sher Ali, Registrar Wali Khan University Mardan and Dr Muhammad Amin, Director Wali Khan University Mardan. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for irregularities in appointments in both teaching and non-teaching cadres as well as embezzlement in funds. They made more than 700 appointments without any procedural formalities.
The EBM decided to constitute a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) in order to conduct inquiry against Muhammad Baqir Raza Kazmi, NAB officers 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 authorise Complaint Verification (CV) in a case against Amir Haider Khan Hoti, ex-chief minister KP, regarding accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income. The EBM also decided closure of three inquiries against Naheed Khan, ex-MNA, Tahir Basharat Cheema, ex-MD PEPCO and others and Javed Iqbal, ex-chief secretary KP due to lack of incriminating evidence.
The EBM decided to allow NAB Lahore to complete post closure activities of a case against Munawar Ali Syed, ex-president of the Management of Canal Breeze Cooperative Housing Society Lahore and others. The matter should also be referred to Registrar, Cooperative Department, Lahore, Punjab where the liquidation is in process.