NAB to file corruption reference against ex-PHA Foundation chief

The anti-corruption watchdog on Wednesday decided to file corruption references against a former head of the PHA Foundation.

Separately, the body decided to launch investigations against government officials in Lahore, Shaheed Benazirabad and Islamabad.

An Executive Board Meeting (EBM) of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was held at the bureau’s headquarters on Wednesday with the body’s chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry in chair, a statement issued by the bureau said on Wednesday.

The EBM decided to file a corruption reference against Rasul Bux Phulpoto, the former managing director and chief executive officer of PHA Foundation, and others. The former officials of the foundation are accused of misusing their authority by appointing 400 to 500 illegal employees.

Investigations

The EBM also authorised three investigations.
The first investigation is against Dr Zafar Iqbal, the former vice chancellor of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUAAST), and others.

Dr Iqbal and other officials of FUAAST are accused of misusing their authority, obtaining pecuniary advantages through corrupt and dishonest means, the opening of an illegal sub-campus of the varsity in Lahore.

The second investigation was authorised against officers of DAD Division in District Shaheed Benazirabad.

The suspects are accused of misusing their authority, embezzling government funds in awarding and executing contracts for a pilot project of cement and concrete lining of the Rohri Main Canal from RD-616 to RD-647, thereby causing the national exchequer a loss of Rs580 million.

The third investigation has been authorised against officers of the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

The investigation was authorised after the Public Accounts Committee sent a report which accused the officials of misusing their authority to stop a project without completing codal formalities, non-recovery of mobilisation advance and wasteful expenditure on the construction of a cultural complex at Shakarparian.

Their actions allegedly caused a loss of around Rs168.904 million to the national exchequer.

Inquiries authorised

The EBM also decided to approve three inquiries.

The first inquiry was authorised against Faisalabad Agricultural University Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan. Dr Khan is accused of misusing his authority, financial embezzlement, the violation in recruitment.

The second inquiry was authorised against Muhammad Asif and others for a suspicious transaction of Rs25.247 billion. The inquiry was authorised based on the Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) referred by the State Bank under section 31-D of NAO 1999.

The third inquiry was authorised against Wali Muhammad Sheikh and others.

Sheikh, of the Provincial Highways Division in Sukkur, and others are accused of acquiring assets beyond known sources of Income and misuse of authority.

Inquiries closed

The EBM also decided to close two Vice-Chancellor owing to lack of incriminating evidence.

The first inquiry closed was against Syed Mardan Ali Shah, the Sindh Minister for Population and Welfare.

The second inquiry which was closed was against Masood Anwer Chughtai, a superintending engineer at the Irrigation Department.

Source: The Express Tribune