Former prime minister Raja Parvez Asharaf could not appear before investigators of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) tasked with probing Rs 22 billion Rental Power Project (RPPs) scam on Tuesday because of illness. Sources said that NAB had summoned Raja Pervez Asharaf to complete its investigation in the major scam, but he submitted a written reply before NAB investigators because of his illness, he would not be able to appear before them.
The NAB had issued a summon, asking Raja Parvez Asharaf on May 13 to record his statement, as he is one of the main accused in the RPPs scam. The Ministry of Interior has also placed Ashraf's and names of other accused on Exit Control List (ECL). NAB had recommended 36 names on June 28 last year (accused in the RPPs scam) to the Ministry of Interior to put their names on the ECL. Sources said that NAB has decided to file a reference against the accused, including the former prime minister, three former federal ministers and four former federal secretaries.
As the Supreme Court gave NAB a month to NAB for completing its investigation of the corruption scam and the deadline would expire on May 27, which is the next date of hearing in the apex court, they said. Raja Pervez Asharaf has been accused of having received kickbacks and commission in the RPP deals when he was federal minister for water and power in 2008.
In the RPP scam, nine firms were accused of receiving more than Rs 22 billion as mobilisation advance from the government to commission the projects, but most of them did not set up plants. Of the total recoverable amount of Rs 22 billion, NAB has so far recovered Rs 5 billion, in addition to Rs 8 billion paid by the firms on the directives of the Supreme Court.