The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was held on Tuesday, which was presided over by Chairman NAB Qamar Zaman Chaudhry. During the meeting, the EBM authorised eight inquiries. First inquiry was authorised against Mustafa Kamal, ex-MD PTV for his alleged involvement in fraudulent and misleading purchase of TV Sets from the market and certain other allegations which caused huge loss to the national exchequer.
Second inquiry was authorised against Basharat Hussain Bashir, Director General (DG) Alternate Energy Development Board (AEDB), Ex-Acting CEO AEDB and others for corruption, corrupt practices and misuse of authority. The accused DG withdrew his salary of Rs 3.5 million for his consultancy period for two years without the approval of Board.
Third inquiry was authorised against Habib Ahmed, Chief Executive, Al-Hamra Hills & Al-Hamra Avenue (Pvt) Ltd, Eden Builders and others for cheating public at large by investing Rs 1258.758 million public money for the purchase of 700 plots and seven farm houses. Fourth inquiry was authorised against Farooq Rehmatullah, Ex-Director General (DG), Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Pervez Bashir, Regional Director North CAA and others for sub-leasing 8.18 acres of prime CAA's land to private persons at throwaway prices and other corrupt practices.
Fifth inquiry was authorised against four Managing Directors (MDs) of Pakistan Machine Tool Factory (PMTF) including Dr Ashraf Butt, Aslam Mushtaq Zaidi, Muhammad Saleem Rajput and Wasiuddin. In this case the management of PMTF in violation of Companies Ordinance, 1984 and the Rules of CPF Trust failed to deposit the contributions and deductions made under CP Funds in the account of PMTF Employees Provident Fund Trust since 2008 till date amounting to more than Rs 108 million.
Sixth inquiry was authorised against Dr Nazir Mughal, Vice Chancellor (VC) University of Sindh Jamshoro and others for corruption, corrupt practices, embezzlement of government funds and illegal appointment of 300 people in the University. Seventh inquiry was authorised against Ahsan Ullah Mehsud, Ex Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR) and officials of Board of Revenue Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) for their alleged involvement in the appointments and promotions of Revenue staff of KPK. In a case against the management of Khalifa Gul Nawaz Teaching Hospital, Bannu, the Board re-authorised an inquiry. In this case the accused persons are alleged for purchasing medical equipment and medicines at exorbitant rates and with short expiry period.
The Executive Board authorised two Complaint Verifications (CV). First CV was authorised against Gazala Gola, Ex-Minister, Women Development Government of Balochistan and others. Second CV was authorised against Officers and officials of Ministry of Petroleum and others.
The EBM also closed four inquiries due to lack of incriminating evidence. These include, first against Syed Muhammad Tarique, Managing Director (MD), Korangi Fisheries Harbour Authority and others, second against Mansoor Alam, Chairman Friends of Literacy and Mass Education (FLAME) NGO and others, third against owners and management of Pakistan Paper Corporation (PPC) and Chemical Ltd Charsadda and others. In PPC case Peshawar High Court has already given a judgement. The Board decided to close the inquiry at NAB and recommended to refer the case to the Industries Department KPK with directives to ensure implementation of PHC order. Fourth inquiry was closed against Dr Abdul Rauf, Director Education and Officers / officials of Directorate of Education, FATA.
On the recommendations of NAB's High Level Committee to decide old pending cases of politicians, the Board also decided to close two cases of accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income for lack of incriminating evidence. First against Rasheed Akbar Niwani, Ex MNA Bhakkar and second against Khawaja Riaz Mehmood, Ex-MPA Lahore.
At the end Chairman NAB directed all concerned to complete the Investigations and Inquiries in the given time period and said that no extension shall be granted.-PR