ISLAMABAD - The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has arrested two persons allegedly involved in corruption, misappropriation in funds, and misuse of authority during the funds released for development projects in NA-51, sources told The Nation on Wednesday.
The accused, arrested by the FIA, are identified as Rafaqat Iqbal, an official of the Public Works Department (PWD), and a government contractor Liaquat Gondal and are allegedly involved in Rs. 7 billion funds misuse.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had ordered action against those involved in the developmental projects initiated by former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, the sources said.
The developmental projects worth Rs 52 billion were initiated by the former PM during the last days of his tenure. The SC had ordered to continue those projects in accordance with the PEPRA rules while to halt the others violating its rules.
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry in its ruling had declared illegal the disbursement of Rs 47 billion developmental funds by Raja Pervaiz in his own constituency (NA-51) ahead of the May 2013 general elections.
The Supreme Court in its judgment on PM's discretionary funds case had ruled that the money was illegally released by the former prime minister.
The court had also ordered action against the recipients of the fund released on the orders of Pervaiz.
The court observed in its decision that a gross violation of rules was committed by the release of discretionary funds.
When contacted Hafiz Muhammad Irfan, he confirmed the arrest of the above mentioned persons and refused to share the details.
Meanwhile, Accountability Court (AC)-1 Islamabad adjourned the hearing of multi-billion rupees OGRA scam case till March 20. As the hearing of the case began on Wednesday, defence lawyer Farooq H. Naek informed the court that Raja Pervez and Yousuf Raza Gillani are already exempted from attending the court proceedings.
They pleaded the bench to adjourn the OGRA case hearing as lawyers were observing a strike against the district court attack in Islamabad. The hearing of the OGRA Case was adjourned till March 20.