National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has not yet removed the name of Senator Ishaq Dar from the list of 179 mega corruption cases available on its website that was presented to the Supreme Court last year on court's directions. The NAB spokesman said the names of those who are no longer under investigations, including Senator Ishaq Dar's, would be removed from the list after fulfillment of all legal formalities.
He added the official statement issued by the Bureau after closure of investigation against Dar is available on the NAB website. The NAB on Friday closed investigation against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for maintaining assets beyond known resources of over Rs 23 million, UK Pounds 3.488 million and US $1,250 million (over Rs 130 billion).
The spokesman said that under the present Chairman NAB, the Bureau is probing all corruption cases on merit and it is not under the influence of the government. He dispelled the impression that the Bureau failed to recover looted money in several cases and instead opted in favour of plea bargain agreements against partial payment of looted money. He categorically added that as per the NAB ordinance, a plea bargain agreement charges the actual estimated money from corruption as determined by Chairman NAB plus the KIBOR rate.
According to NAB list of mega cases, investigations against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his younger brother Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif are under way in two corruption cases - (i) illegal appointments in Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and (ii) Misuse of authority in construction of road from Raiwind to Sharif Family House - a misappropriation of Rs 125.664 million.
As per a NAB report, it has also authorised an inquiry against Haroon Akhtar Khan, special assistant to Prime Minister and his brother Ghazi Akhtar, Director and Chief Executive officers of M/s Tandlianwala Sugar Mills (Pvt) Limited on an alleged suspicious transaction of $6.9 million.
The NAB list also includes cases against former Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Ellahi. Out of 11 corruption cases against Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, five are under trial and investigations into six other cases are under way.