Daily Times

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal visited NAB Lahore bureau on Thursday.

NAB Lahore Director General Shahzad Saleem briefed the chairman NAB in details on the progress in the ongoing investigations of mega corruption cases of money laundering, assets beyond means against former Chief Minister Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza Shehbaz, Salman Shehbaz and others.

In the money laundering case, inquiry of money laundering case in Chaudhry Sugar Mills against accused Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Yousaf Abbas, Abdul Aziz, investigations against Ikram Naveed in assets beyond known sources of income in Power Development Case, and investigations against Ali Imran against Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif, assets beyond means case against former finance minister Ishaq Dar, abuse of authority case against Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif in abuse of power in Raiwind Road expansion case, inquiry against Nawaz Sharif in illegal distribution of LDA Plots and other mega corruption cases.

Chairman NAB said that NAB has no affiliation with any political party or individual but its sole aim is to eradicate corruption from the country as there national duty. Investigations of NAB in mega corruption cases is tantamount to white collar crimes investigations in whereby most impost is getting solid documentary evidence. He said no laxity would be tolerated in the investigations of white collar crimes mega corruption cases. NAB did not consider face but always see into the merits of a case in the light of law and evidence available. Solid cases should be framed where concrete evidence is available. He urged NAB officers to work as a team as NAB has already introduced combined investigation team (CIT) which was producing tangible results. NAB officers should perform their duties in accordance with law and constitution. Self-esteem of every accused must be ensured and no laxity in this regard would be tolerated.

He said NAB has deposited Rs 71 billion in the national exchequer, and the Lahore bureau has a role in it. The bureau has handed over Rs 500 million from the account of Ishaq Dar to provincial government, whereas four-kanal home of Dar was also being handed over to Punjab government.

The amount would be deposited in national exchequer after selling the Dar’s home. NAB has recovered Rs 1 billion property from Naveed Akram, former chief financial officer Punjab Power Development Company. Chairman lauded the performance of Lahore bureau under the supervision of DG Shahzad Saleem.