ISLAMABAD/LAHORE   -  National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal has directed the authorities of NAB Rawalpindi to probe into the alleged corruption, irregularities, and illegal land acquisition in Rawalpindi Ring Road project.

According to a NAB spokesman, Justice (r) Javed Iqbal ordered the director general of NAB Rawalpindi to cover all the aspects of Rawalpindi Ring Road project in the probe so that the culprits could be punished according to the law.

On the other hand, the Punjab government also decided to ask the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) for compiling a comprehensive report on Rawalpindi Ring Road scandal. Previously, the government had decided to ask the NAB for investigating the alleged scam. An announcement to this effect was earlier made by Special Assistant to Chief Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan when she shared the details of the first inquiry with the media last week.

The decision of referring the case to the ACE director general came after Special Assistant to Prime Minister Zulfi Bukhari announced to resign from his position till the clearance of his name from the alleged scam. Another alleged beneficiary of the scam, Federal Minister Ghulam Sarwar, also held a press conference on Monday to clarify his position.

According to the Punjab government’s spokesperson, the inquiry of Rawalpindi Ring Road scandal has been assigned to the ACE director general with directions to compile a comprehensive report. “The decision has been taken on the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar,” said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson further stated that the ACE director general had been directed to constitute a committee of experts to probe into the matter. “A policy of zero-tolerance is being followed against corruption, and the corrupt elements will find no escape from punishment.”