ISLAMABAD: The Executive Board Meeting (EBM) of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday authorised inquiries against several officials over alleged corruption. The meeting was chaired by NAB Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal. According to details, the EBM authorised corruption references against Farooq Awan, former secretary information technology, Muhammad Saleem, former principal information officer (PIO), Syed Hassan Sheikh, former company secretary Universal Services Fund, Inam Akbar, former chief executive officer (CEO), Messrs Midas Pvt Limited and other officers/officials of the Ministry of Information Technology. All the above mentioned accused have been allegedly involved in the abuse of power and awarding advertisement campaign contracts to Ms Midas Pvt Limited contrary to PPRA rules. The illegal contracts inflicted Rs 128.07 million losses to national Exchequer. The EBM also authorised four different types of investigations against Awais Muzaffar Tappi, former provincial minister, Sindh Local Government, Raja Muhammad Abbas, former chief secretary Sindh, Ghulam Mustafa Phal, former secretary land utilisation, Sindh, Ghulam Abbas Soomro, former secretary land utilisation, Sindh and others for illegally allotting hundreds of acres Malir River Authority’s land, thus inflicting Rs 33,000 million loss to the national kitty. The Executive Board authorised conducting an inquiry against officers/officials of Lahore Development Authority, management of NESPAK and others. They have been accused of abusing authority and corruption in Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project, thus causing almost Rs 4 billion loss to the national exchequer. The EBM authorised yet another corruption reference against former Sindh Building Control Authority Director General Manzoor Qadir Kaka and others as they have been accused of inflicting Rs 3 billion loss through corrupt practices, tempering with official documents and alleged abuse of authority. The EBM authorised conducting inquiry against the officers/officials of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Oil and Gas Company Limited and others for buying Rs 142.4 million software from a company on higher rates and not using the software. They have also been accused of the alleged abuse of authority, making illegal appointments, squandering the state money on domestic and abroad visits, causing a heavy loss to the national exchequer. The EBM approved conducting inquiry against Federal Urdu University of Arts , Science and Technology vice chancellor and others for allegedly doling out PhD scholarships to favourite students. This caused a Rs 115.673 million loss to national kitty. The EBM authorised conducting investigations against Saqib Ahmed Soomro, member Land Utilisation, Sindh and management of Gulshan-e-Areesha Cooprative Housing Society and others for alleged illegal allotment of state land. The EBM authorised a corruption reference against former Director Messrs Pak Com Sultan ul Arafian, Javed Fraz, Chief Executive, Messrs Pak Com and others for allegedly not paying Rs 21.64 billion license fee to the government. It also authorised an inquiry against former Sindh deputy attorney general Mazhar Ali Sehto and others for having assets beyond known sources of income. Another inquiry was approved against DG Monitoring, Audit, Accounts and Agricultural Supply Imdad Memon and others. The EBM approved conducting inquiry against the officers/officials of Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar for making alleged illegal appoints, abuse of authority and misappropriation in government funds. The EBM approved inquiries against Bashir Dawood, Mriyam Dawood and others for their alleged involvement in illegal and dubious transactions. The EBM authorised yet another inquiry against Metropolitan Corporation, Quetta and others for alleged grabbing of the government land. The EBM authorised another inquiry against Director Finance QUEST Fazal Shaikh and others. Besides, it authorised an inquiry against Dr Mubarak Ali, Principal Sheikh Zayed Medical College, Rahim Yar Khan and others. The EBM directed an inquiry against National Rular Support Programme Chief Executive Dr Rashid Bajwa, General Manager Operations Dera Ghazi Khan Agha Ali Jawwad and others. The EBM also authorised inquiries against former federal minister Hafiz Abdul Karim, Usman Abdul Karim, Anas Abdul Karim, Dr Najeeb Haider and others. They have been accused of making assets beyond known sources of income. Inquiries were also closed against Ministry of Housing and Works, Agriculture University Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmed Khan and others. Published in Daily Times, August 2nd 2018.