NAB to file reference against ex-PM Pervaiz Ashraf, others

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Board of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday decided to file a corruption reference against former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in a case pertaining to the rental power projects (RPPs), Naudero-I.
A corruption reference in this case will also be filed against ex-secretary water and power Fayyaz Elahi, former managing director Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) Fayyaz Ahmed Khan and ex-managing director of Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) Tahir Basharat Cheema. In this case, the accused were involved in the award of a 51 MW RPP contract to sponsor, the WPI, without open bidding and upon terms and conditions favourable to the sponsor in violation of the RPP rules and Nepra Act.
The Rental Services Contract (RSC) was also amended to favour the sponsor at the cost of the state exchequer.The decision was taken in a meeting of the executive board held under the chairmanship of Qamar Zaman Chaudhry at the NAB Headquarters here.
The board also decided to launch an inquiry against Chief Secretary Sindh Muhammad Siddique Memon and other officers of the Board of Revenue, Sindh, in millions of rupees land scam in Karachi. The inquiry was ordered against Siddique Memon and other officers of the Sindh Board of Revenue for fake allotment of six acres in Deh Bitti Aamri, Scheme-33, Karachi, by tampering with the documents causing millions of rupees loss to the national exchequer.
The board also decided to authorise complaint verification (VR) against Mir Munawwar Talpur MNA, who is the brother-in-law of former President Asif Ali Zardari, for allegedly misusing his authority and misappropriating public funds. The board closed an investigation against the Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chief Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao for lack of incriminating evidence.
The second inquiry was authorised against Haroon Khan, ex-Executive Engineer, Upper Jhelum Canal, Gujrat Division, for alleged misappropriation and corruption of millions of rupees in repeated construction of Bahri Randyali, Chakori and Lalamusa Flood Bunds and remodeling of Kalra Drain, Dera Munawar, by covering up misappropriation of old development works.
The third inquiry was authorised against Liaquat Durrani, President/Managing Director, Punjab Provincial Cooperative Bank, and others.In this case, the accused were alleged of corruption and corrupt practices, misuse of authority and loan default, causing a loss of Rs860 million to the national exchequer.
The fourth inquiry was authorised against Faisal Masroor Siddiqui, a businessman, for illegal acquisition of state land by paying bribe and land grabbing, causing a loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer.The fifth inquiry was authorised against Babar Chughtai, ex-Chairman ABAD/ Builder, for illegal acquisition of state land by paying bribes, land grabbing, misuse of authority and accumulation of assets causing millions of rupees loss to the national exchequer.
The sixth inquiry was authorised against Riffat Yazdan Siddiqui of M/S M-Cube Pvt Limited, Karachi, for alleged willful default of Rs71.335 million.The executive board decided to authorise an investigation against Muhammad Naeem Khan, FGS, ex-in charge PRC Pishin, and others.
In this case, the accused were alleged of embezzlement of 237,458 wheat bags at the PRC Pishin worth Rs717.884 million.The board also decided to authorise complaint verification (VR) against Sindh MNA Mir Munawwar Talpur. In this case, the accused was alleged of misuse of authority and misappropriation of public funds.