Daily Times

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak Saturday submitted a detailed response to a questionnaire sent by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

“The KP chief minister submitted response to at least 30 questions raised by country’s top anti-corruption body over graft allegations,” sources said.

The anti-corruption watchdog had earlier sent two questionnaires with approximately 15 questions each to Khattak.

“The questionnaire had sought details on the illegal lease of a huge tract of KP Forest Department’s land in Malam Jabba and the use of an official helicopter,” source added.

They said that the response submitted by Khattak was being thoroughly scrutinised. “A reference will be prepared against the KP chief minister if his replies are not satisfactory.”

On April 24, the NAB summoned Khattak after it emerged that the KP government had illegally leased 275 acres in Malam Jabba, a tourist attraction in Swat district, which belonged to the provincial forest department.

The provincial government was to lease a mere 17-acre patch, including 5 acres for construction of a hotel and 12 acres for a chairlift project, for 15 years.

However, the KP government allegedly gave 275-acre land to a private company on lease for 33 years, violating the rules and regulations.

The vast tract was reportedly leased despite objections by the KP Ehtesab Commission and CM’s inspection team.

The KP Tourism Corporation had denied the lease of the said land.

Published in Daily Times, May 13^th 2018.