Former minister, Manzoor Wattoo, on Friday, appeared before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in an inquiry related to corruption of power during his stint as a federal minister.
Wattoo had previously served as the federal minister of industries and production in 2008.
While talking to news sources after his appearance before the accountability bureau, the former minister said that he had shown up after being summoned for an inquiry over alleged illegal appointments in Utility Corporations of Pakistan.
He was given a questionnaire by the bureau and asked to record responses within 10 days, Wattoo added.
When asked about the allegations levelled against him, he noted that the jobs had been awarded in the light of the federal cabinet decision taken in 2008.
“It was decided to open 1,500 stores and generate 3,500 jobs,” he maintained.
Earlier on April 23, the ex-minister had skipped the accountability watchdog’s summon.
On March 7, the anti-corruption body had launched an inquiry of power abuse against Wattoo.
According to sources, the minister also showered favours upon friends and favourites during his ministerial term in 2008 with illegal postings and recruitment.
He had illegally hired over 400 employees in the corporation, the informed sources continued.
Wattoo had joined Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) after winning two National Assembly seats in 2008 general polls as an independent candidate.
He had served as the federal minister for Industries and Production in the PPP government of the then prime minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.