The NAB noose tightens

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday approved filing of three supplementary corruption references against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family in connection with three corruption references filed earlier by the anti-graft body in an accountability court. The decision to this effect was taken at an Executive Board Meeting (EBM) of NAB presided over by NAB Chairman former Justice Javed Iqbal.
The meeting also approved filing a supplementary reference against former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in connection with a reference regarding assets beyond known sources of income. An official said the supplementary references approved by the EBM are pertaining to the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and the Hill Metals Establishment, the Flagship investment and the Avenfield reference.
It is pertinent to be mentioned here that NAB has already filed these supplementary references in the accountability court. He said that the EBM also approved an inquiry against the owners of Chaudhry Sugar Mills. The owners of the mill include former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his wife Kulsoom Nawaz and daughter Maryam Safdar, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Hamza Shahbaz Sharif and others.
The official said the accused in the Chaudhry Sugar Mill case are allegedly involved in possessing assets beyond known sources of income. The NAB received this complaint on the basis of suspicious transfer of money from FMU, State Bank of Pakistan. The NAB has received complaint from FMU, State Bank of Pakistan, regarding their involvement in suspicious transaction. He said the meeting also okayed another inquiry against Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Fazal Dad Abbas, Masroor Anwar and others. The NAB has received a complaint against these accused on the basis of suspicious transfer of money from State Bank of Pakistan.
The official said the meeting also approved an investigation against former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, State Minister for IT and Telecoms Anusha Rehman, and former chairman PTA Dr Ismail Khan for illegal award of contract of Next Generation Mobile Service (NGSMA). The anti-graft body also launched an inquiry against the relevant officers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for illegal use of government helicopter by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan.
The official said that Bureau also approved an inquiry against Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervaiz Khattak, Chief Secretary Khalid Pervaiz, and others for misuse of authority and corruption which caused huge losses to the national exchequer. The Bureau also approved an inquiry against officers of Civil Aviation Authority. They have been accused of misuse of authority. He said that the EBM also approved an inquiry against the officers and employees of SSGC and Pakistan Steel Mills. They have been accused of illegally stopping gas supply to Pakistan Steel Mills.