ISLAMABAD - The National Accountability Bureau has decided to write to the Ministry of Interior to put names of Pakistan’s envoy-designate for the United States Ali Jahangir Siddiqui and Ahmed Humayun Shiekh on the exit control list due to a corruption inquiry of Rs40 billion underway against them.

NAB chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal chaired a meeting at the NAB headquarters and ordered to verify the complaint against disqualified prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s son-in-law Captain (r) Safdar over allegations of holding 300 kanal land, flour mill in Township, Mansehra, a plot of 30 kanal and a house on one kanal.

The NAB chairman also directed to verify another complaint regarding grant of Rs9 billion to Captain (r) Safdar by the Cabinet Division under the PM Global Sustainable Development Goal Achievement Programme. 

On March 15, the NAB Lahore office had issued a notice to Siddiqui and summoned him on March 21st to record his statement in a case of causing Rs40 billion losses to investors.

The notice said, “Whereas the competent authority has taken cognisance of offences committed by directors/owners of M/s Azgard Nine Limited, Agritech Limited and others under the provisions of the NAB Ordinance, 1999.”

It further said, “Siphoning off funds amounting to Euro23.758 million in 2008 for the purchase of an Italian Company ‘Monte Bello SRL’ using a foreign company ‘Fairytal SRL, Sweden’ which resulted in loss to the company/shareholders.”

The NAB notice also said, “Selling shares of Agritech Limited to different financial/government institutions by Azgard Nine Limited at higher price than market price to settle the loan defaults of the company, resulted in approximate loss of Rs40 billion to different financial/government institutions.”

Following the bureau’s notice, the PM’s Adviser Ali Siddiqui appeared before the NAB’s combined investigation team and answered the questions for over an hour in the case.

The NAB chairman also directed all officers of the NAB to adopt and demonstrate absolute fairness and transparency in discharge of their national duties.

He appreciated the positive role of intelligentsia, the academia, civil society and media in sensitising people about the ill effects of corruption on national economy and society.