NAB authorises reference against ex-PM Gilani, others

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has approved filing corruption references against former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and others for their alleged involvement in illegally awarding an advertising contract to Midas (Pvt) Ltd in violation of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules.

The decision was made during the bureau’s Executive Board Meeting, chaired by NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, in Islamabad on Wednesday.

The other accused in the case included former secretary Information Technology Farooq Awan, former principal information officer Muhammad Saleem, former company secretary of Universal Service Fund (USF) Syed Hassan Sheikh, CEO Messers Midas Private Limited Inam Akbar, and other officials of Ministry of Information Technology, who allegedly misused their authority which caused a loss of Rs128.07 million to the national exchequer.
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The EBM also approved a corruption reference against former Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) DG Karachi Manzoor Qadir Kaka and others, who had allegedly tampered the official documents by misusing their authority, causing a loss of around Rs3 billion to the national kitty.

The board also accorded approval of different investigations against former Sindh minister for local government Owais Muzaffar Tappi – who happens to be foster brother of former president Asif Ali Zardari – former Sindh chief secretary Raja Muhammad Abbas, former secretaries Land Utilisation Sindh Ghulam Mustafa Phal and Ghulam Abbas Somroo, and others.

The accused had allegedly misused their authority and illegally allotted hundreds of acres land of Malir River, causing Rs33,000 million loss to the national exchequer.

The NAB board also approved inquiries against officials of Lahore Development Authority (LDA), administration of NESPAK and others. The accused had allegedly made corruption in the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project by misusing their authority and ultimately causing a loss of around Rs4 billion to the national exchequer.

During the meeting it was made clear that the scrutiny of complaints, inquiries and investigations were initiated on the basis of allegations which were ‘not final’.

“NAB would seek version of all relevant persons so that further action could be taken as per law.”

Source: Express Tribune