NAB moves against minister, ANP’s ex-CM, K-Electric

ISLAMABAD: The process to place on the ECL (Exit Control List) the names of those who are actively involved in awarding the LNG terminal to ETPL by extending favours and not maintaining transparency has been initiated, reveals the interim inquiry report of Karachi NAB. The accountability body also initiated an inquiry against K-Electric and former KP chief minister Ameer Haider Hoti.
The NAB also declared Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, ex-federal secretary Abid Saeed, Managing Director of Inter-State Gas System (ISGS) Mobin Saulat, ex-CEO of an agriculture/energy/ food private company Emranul Haq Sheikh and ex-MDs of SSGC Zuhair Siddiqui and Shoaib Ahmad Warsi as accused from the record so far collected. The report has detected that all the said personalities have been actively found involved in awarding the questionable contract of LNG terminal and LSA (LNG services agreement).
The involvement of the said personalities has exposed the national exchequer to over Rs200 billion ($2billion) loss over a 15-year period. The misuse of the authority has been committed in the award of the LNG terminal contract by violating the PPRA and relevant rules of law.
The report says that Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, being the minister, played an active role in the award of a tender to the ETPL and in execution of a tender through the Inter-State Gas System instead of SNGPL or SSGC. The NAB’s interim enquiry report also mentions the active role of Abid Saeed, ex-secretary Petroleum and Natural Resources, Mobin Saulat, ex-CEO of M/s Engro Pvt Limited, Emranul Haq Sheikh and ex-MDs of SSGC, Zuhair Siddiqui and Shoaib Ahmad Warsi has been established.
The Karachi NAB has sought to examine the said personalities in detail. The Karachi NAB sought formal approval from the NAB chairman for a formal enquiry into the questionable deal.
Meanwhile, the Executive Board Meeting (EBM) of NAB, held in Islamabad on Thursday with Qamar Zaman Chaudhry in the chair, launched an inquiry against the management of K-Electric, Karachi, alleged of collectiing more than Rs22 billion on account of tariff relief from 23 million consumers of Karachi and Balochistan in violation of the Nepra order and mis-declaration of revenue collection to the tune of Rs213 billion.
The NAB also sprang into action against senior leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) and former chief minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ameer Haider Hoti, opening an inquiry against him for accumulating assets beyond his known sources of income. The board decided to refer the case of former chairman Pemra Chaudhry Rasheed Ahmad and others regarding corruption and misuse of authority making recruitments in Pemra to the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) for linking it with the inquiry already being conducted by the FIA.
The NAB also decided to refer the case of tax evasion of Pakistanis to the FBR for an inquiry. The board decided to file a corruption reference against Intikhab Alam Syed and others for their alleged willful loan default of Rs366.670 million.
It decided to file two supplementary corruption references against Javed Iqbal Abbasi, proprietor of M/s Javed Enterprises, and others for embezzlement of government funds through fraudulent actions and receiving Rs73.66 million.
The second supplementary reference will be filed against Mir Shah Jehan Khetran, ex-MD PTDC, and others. In this case, the accused persons illegally leased out the PTDC land in a non-transparent manner and caused a loss of Rs19.151 million to the national exchequer.
The board launched an inquiry against Javed Pervez, Ceo IESCO, Najam Javed, Director Finance, Asif Kamal, former president TIBL, and others. In this case, the accused persons were alleged of misuse of authority and purchasing benami assets, thus, causing a loss of Rs81 million to the national exchequer.
Another inquiry was authorised against Syed Muhammad Tariq Qadri, ex-chief election commissioner, and Bushra Khalid, a school teacher, Dera Ghazi Khan. In this case, the accused persons were alleged of misuse of authority and accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income.
It decided to re-authorise two inquiries. The first inquiry is against the Karachi Port Trust officials and others. The accused persons were alleged of awarding and execution of contract of dredging and reclamation works to M/s China International Water & Electric Corps (CWE) in violation of rules, thus causing a loss of Rs224 million to the national exchequer. The second inquiry is re-authorised against officials of the Health Department namely Muhammad Ishfaq, ex-secretary health/Chairman Provincial Quality Control Board KP, Sharif Ahmed, ex-DG Health Services KP, Muhammad Ali Chuahan, ex-DG Health KP and others.
In this case, the accused persons were alleged of supplying sub-standard Interferon injections for Hepatitis Control Programme of the government of KP and short supply/misappropriation in the purchase of Interferon injections, thus, causing a loss of Rs244.9 million to the national exchequer.
The EBM decided to close the inquiry against Zahid Pervaiz, ex-MS Mayo Hospital, Lahore, due to lack of incriminating evidence.