Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Mir Intikhab, son of former caretaker Chief Minister (CM) Shah Jehan Mir and Manzoor Ahmad Mir, younger brother of the latter, have been declared innocent and released in computerised number plates scam of Rs 60 million in Excise and Taxation Office Gilgit. Mir Intikhab has been reinstated as ETO in government department.

On the other hand, former secretary excise Muhammad Ali Yougvi and deputy director Zamir Abbas, against whom transaction of a few hundred thousand rupees have surfaced in NAB reference, are languishing in Gilgit jail for the last two years.

Sources told Daily Times that Excise and Taxation Office Gilgit awarded a Rs 60 million contract to a local company Salim and Sons on 22 May 2013 for supply of number plates of Punjab government standard. As per this contract, the aforesaid company was to supply 20,000 number plates at the rate of Rs 3,000 per pair.

Sources said that a 4-member committee was constituted while inviting this tender. The committee comprised the then secretary excise and taxation Muhammad Ali Yougvi, Deputy director Zamir Abbas, ETO Adman Mir Intikhab and a representative of finance department. The tender was awarded to the said company with the approval of the committee and after meeting all legal requirements.

According to documents received in Daily Times, Salim and Sons company filed its bill amounting to Rs 60 million in the excise department which was sent by DDO Mir Intikhab ul Haq to AGPR on June 19, 2013 without approval. Later the file was sent to department on June, 24, 2013 for final approval. He himself received the cheque before obtaining approval from the department. This criminal negligence is recorded in the NAB reference.