ISLAMABAD, 15 JULY (DNA) – The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was held under the Chairmanship of Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, Chairman NAB at NAB Headquarter. The following decisions were made during the EBM.

The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) decided to file five (5) corruption references. First corruption reference was decided to file against Arshad Farooq Faheem & others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for exorbitant and illegal increase in prices of during drug pricing committee meetings. Thus caused a loss of Rs. 692.96 million to the national exchequer.

The second corruption reference was decided to file against Asfand Yar Kakar, Ex-Minister, Food Balochistan and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for embezzlement in Government wheat amounting to Rs.466.914 million from Provincial Reserve Center Pishin, Bochistan.

The third corruption reference was decided to file against Aslam Butt, Ex-Mayor, Municipal Corporation Gujranwala and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for misuse of authority and awarded contract to M/s Rathore Enterprises on higher rates. Thus caused a loss of millions ourth corruption reference was decided to file against Dr. Ihsan Ali, Vice Chancellor Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for misuse of authority by making illegal appointments of 652 officials on contract/temporary basis that too without advertisements and completing all codal formalities as per law. Thus caused a loss of Rs. 462 million to the national exchequer.

The fifth corruption reference was decided to file against Syed Mussarrat Abbas, former Additional Secretary, Senate Secretariat, Islamabad and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for misuse of authority, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of funds of Senate Secretariat Employees Cooperative Housing Society. Thus caused a loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer.

The EBM decided to re-authorize an investigation against officers/officials of MEPCO, Trust Investment Bank Limited (TIBL), Multan and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for misappropriation, obtaining pecuniary benefits, misuse of authority. Thus caused a loss of Rs. 297.289 million to the national exchequer.

The EBM decided to authorize 2 (Two) inquiries. First inquiry against Shafqat Shah Shirazi, Ex-MNA and Ejaz shah Shirazi, Ex-MPA District Thatta Sindh. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income.

The Second inquiry was authorized against Dost Muhammad, Rahimoo, Minister for Ushar and Zakat Sindh and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged for accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income, misappropriation in distribution of Wheat in Taluka Chachro and Dhali, Sindh and misuse of authority. Thus caused a loss of Rs. 500 million to the national exchequer.

The EBM decided to close investigation against Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Finance and Ex-Minister for Commerce which was pending for closure since 2001, investigation against Abdul Karim Nosherwani, Ex-Minister for Excise and Taxation, Balochistan which was pending for closure since 1999, investigation against Zahid Anwar, Chief Executive and Rukhsana Begum, Director M/s Zeeshan Energy Ltd, Faisalabad due to lack of incriminating evidence.

The EBM also decided to close inquiry against Gohar Ejaz, CEO and others, inquiry against Israr Rauf, Member FATE, FBR and others and Tariq Shafi, account holder of Standard Chartered Bank Main Branch, Karachi due to lack of incriminating evidence.

At the end, Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, Chairman NAB said that that NAB is committed to eradicate corruption by adopting Zero Tolerance Policy through Awareness, Prevention and Enforcement Strategy across the board. He directed all officers/officials of NAB to work with more dedication and ensure transparency in conduct of complaint verifications, inquiries and investigations against corrupt in accordance with laid down laws/SOPs of NAB and on merit. DNA