National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday arrested Ghazan Hoti, brother of KP's former chief minister Haider Hoti, in the police weapons scam after non-confirmation of his bail before arrest by the Peshawar High Court. Former Inspector General of Police KP, Malik Naveed is already in the judicial lock-up.
As per statement of approver turned contractor of the case, Arshid Majeed, Ghazan Hoti had allegedly taken kickbacks to the tune of Rs 195 million in the multi-billion public procurement of weapons, equipments and vehicles enabling KP Police department to counter the unabated law and order situation in the province. The court also rejected the bail applications of former IGP Malik Naveed and Raza Ali Khan, brother-in-law of Ghazan Hoti.
NAB KP, on receipt of complaints had authorised an inquiry against police officers of province and others for alleged embezzlement in procurement of weapons, equipment and vehicles in 2008 to 2010 by violating government rules thus causing huge loss to state exchequer.
Over Rs 7 billion was released by the KP government for procurement of weapons, vehicles and equipment in 2008 to 2010, to counter the unabated to law and order situation in the province. During inquiry, it was revealed that gross violation of procurement rules was committed by the purchase committee in awarding tenders to favourite contractors who had no previous experience of supplying such items and for which payments were made in advance. Huge commissions and bribery was involved in these contracts. A formal reference in the weapon scam worth Rs 2.03 billion has already been filed against Malik Naveed and nine other senior serving and retired police officers, including influential private persons in the Accountability Court Peshawar.