KARACHI, July 19 (DNA): The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has ordered an inquiry into corruption allegedly committed by Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar and former Sindh Assembly speaker Agha Siraj Durrani.

Chairman NAB Justice Javed Iqbal directed the Sindh NAB Director General to verify a complaint against Waseem Akhtar for his involvement in Rs3.6 billion corruption in funds.

The decision was taken in a Regional Board Meeting held at NAB Karachi Thursday under the Chairmanship of Director General NAB Karachi Mohammad Altaf Bawany.

The Board was attended by Directors of Investigation Wings and respective Investigating Teams of concerned cases. Various cases were deliberated upon and following decision were made:

Consequent upon completion of Complaint Verification process on complaint against Agha Siraj Durrani former Speaker Sindh Assembly, case was deliberated upon by the Regional Baord which recommended for authorization of three separate inquiries against him.

One inquiry pertains to allegations of accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income by former Speaker; second allegation pertains to illegal appointments of 352 appointees; while third allegation pertains to embezzlement of funds for the construction of MPA Hostel and construction of new Sindh Assembly building, including appointment of Project Directors for the said projects. The recommendation was made to the competent authority on the basis of exhaustive verification of complaints.

On completion of Complaint Verification Process on a complaint, recommendation was made to the competent authority for authorizing formal inquiry against Waseem Akhter Mayor Karachi and officers and officials of KMC. The allegations prima facia verified pertain to budgeted amount of Rs. 36 billion and subsequent releases to KMC during years 2015 to 2018 against which allegedly work in Karachi was not carried out worth that amount.

On conclusion of Complaint Verification process on a complaint, recommendation was made to competent authority for authorization of formal inquiry against Iftikhar Qaimkhani, DG Sindh Building Control Authority (CBCA) on the allegations of accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income.  The preliminary probe was conducted on the basis of a pointation in one of the raids conducted recently.

An inquiry was authorized against management and owners of M/s Pride Builders & Developers which is one of the allied companies of Rufi Builders and Developers.  Inquiry was authorized on the allegations of cheating public at large for booking of more than 1600 residential and commercial plots valuing more than Rs. 5400 million (approx.) in the names of several allottees.

However, the building license and NOC was cancelled by Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), despite that, prima facia, they continued to develop and book the plots. The inquiry was authorized on the basis of complaints lodged by several such allottees who have been cheated.

An inquiry was authorized against Managing Director and other officers of Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (SITE) Karachi on the allegations of embezzlement of various funds and revenues of SITE.

Another inquiry was authorized against Managing Director and other officers of Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (SITE) Karachi on the allegations of illegal allotments of plots of SITE particularly on Super Highway.

On completion of inquiry, recommendation was made to the competent authority for authorization of investigation against Pir Fareed Jan Sarhandi SSP on the allegations of illegal recruitment of 378 constables. The inquiry was initiated on the orders of Hon’able Supreme Court of Pakistan.

DG NAB Mr. Mohammad Altaf Bawany, at the end of Board Meeting, appreciated the performance of Complaint Verification Cell particularly for efforts of officers in unearthing major offences prima facie established.  He issued instructions to the Directors heading the investigation wings for expediting the investigative work purely on merit, without any discriminating and as per the guidelines of Chairman NAB Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal.