Rental power scam: NAB decides to file references against former Prime Minister, 18 others

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday decided to file two references against former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and 18 others for their alleged involvement in Rental Power Projects (RPPs) scam and illegal allotment of a plot.
Chairman NAB Qamar Zaman Chaudhry has given approval to two separate references in RPPs case Piranghaib, Multan and Techno Engineering Services (Pvt) Ltd Sahuwal, Sialkot for alleged corruption, corrupt practices and misuse of authority in the award of RPP contracts and approved another reference regarding illegal allotment of plots during the NAB Executive Board Meeting (EBM) held at bureau's headquarters, an official source said.
The official said the main accused in both the references pertaining to RPP scam approved by the bureau's EBM include former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, former Minister for Water & Power, Shaukat Tarin, former Minister Finance; Salman Saddique, former Secretary Finance, Shahid Rafi, former Secretary Water & Power as well as 15 other accused.
The accused nominated in the reference are accused of concealing the facts while getting approval of the competent forum, making post bid changes thus causing a huge loss to the national exchequer. The official said that NAB also approved filing of a reference regarding illegal allotment of plot. Raja Altaf and Raja Hanif are alleged of committing fraud and forgery by misusing the authority and depriving complainant Ramazan Ali of Rs 9.8 million, he said.