ISLAMABAD - The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) yesterday authorized eight investigations against the persons including former Chief Minister Balochistan Sanaullah Zahri and also approved to file two corruption references.

Chairman NAB Justice (R) Javeed Iqbak chaired the meeting and gave approval to file  first corruption reference against various personalities including Ahmed Hayat, former chairman, Karachi Port Trust (KPT), Syed Jamshed Zaidi, former General Manager KPT, Khurram S Abbas, CEO, Karachi International Container Terminal, and others for illegally allotting state land, thus causing Rs 21.45 billion losses to national exchequer.

The EBM authorized filing of second  corruption reference against Muhammad Farooq, former Chairman Balochistan Development Authority, Javed Khan, director Balochistan Development Authority, and others on the charges of awarding the contract of clean drinking water supply project illegally which inflicted Rs 984.86 million losses to national exchequer.

The EBM also authorized conducting of eight inquiries against various personalities including Sardar Jaffar Khan Leghari, MNA, Dera Ghazi Khan, and others, Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, Information Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and others, Ahmed Nawaz, Chairman, Hameed Akbar Khan, former District Nazim Bhakkar, Khalid Saeed, General Manager, Technical, LESCO, Lahore and others, Muhammad Anwer Virk, former Additional IG Police, and others, the officers/officials involved in illegal allotment of state land to American International School System and also the management of the school, Raja Khan Mehr MPA, Sindh, Munshi Hayat, Sachal Mehar, Supervisor, Amanullah, Faisal Memon, former CMO, Nadir Shah Amroti, TMO, City supervisor, officers and officials and others of Local Government department, District Ghotki, Amanatullan Khan, former minister for irrigation and others, Rana Abdur Rauf, MPA, Rana Atif, former Chairman MC Bahawalpur, officers and officials and others of MC  Bahawalpur,  PHA, and contractors.

Justice (R) Javed Iqbal directs to respect self esteem of every accused

The EBM authorised conducting of eight investigations against different personas including Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, former chief minister Balochistan, and others,  officials and others of KPT, officials of the department of Archaeology, Khyber Pakhtukghwa,  management of Balochistan Development Authority, P and D Department and others, Manzoor Ahmed Malik, former official, SSP officer, others of Jackobabad, Abdul Hameed Kato Mukhtiar Kar, (revenue), officers/officials of Revenue Department of Kashmore, Dr Fazal Karim, former EDO, Health, Khanewal and others.

The EBM authorized closing inquiries against various accused including Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, former minister industries and production and others, Ilyas Khan, former senior joint secretary, minister for interfaith harmony and others, Nazir Ahmed Soomro, deputy manager SST Division, SEPCO, Sukkur, and others owing to absence of evidence.

The EMB authorized sending of investigations against Chaudhry Masood Ahmed, former MPA, officials of Cholistan Development Authority, Revenue Department, Liaquatpur, and others to Board of Revenue, Local Government in accordance with law. The ongoing investigations against developers and others of Canal Garden Housing Authority, Bahawalpur to Deputy Commissioner Bahawalpur for further action.

The ongoing investigations against Darais C Menola and others were authorized to be sent to FBR for further action. The investigations against officers and officials of Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has been sent to Chief Secretary, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for further action.

During the meeting, NAB Chairman Justice ® Javed Iqbal said that eradication of corruption and corruption-free Pakistan is the top priority of NAB.

The Bureau is a national anti-graft institution is pursuing the policy of accountability for all, he said adding it has no affiliation with any political party, individual or group….the only affiliation is with state of Pakistan.

He also informed that NAB has recovered Rs 714 billion since its inception whereas Rs 487 billion have been recovered directly or indirectly during the tenure of incumbent administration.

He directed investigation officers and prosecutors to pursue NAB cases in relevant courts after complete preparations.

He directed the officers to respect the self esteem of every accused and no laxity would be tolerated in this regard.

The Chairman also directed the concerned officials to take the cases of fake housing societies and cooperative housing societies to logical conclusion, so that the looted money could be recovered and returned to the affectees.