ISLAMABAD: The government has barred the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from investigating the PTCL privatisation deal and non-payment of $800 million by Etisalat, Daily Times has learnt.
Sources disclosed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar sent a clear message to the NAB chairman not to probe against Etisalat.
They said the government would talk to the UAE government regarding non-payment of $800 million, adding that there is a chance that Pakistan-UAE relations would be affected if NAB takes any action.
NAB has stopped proceedings and investigation against the officials and former government personalities who approved the privatisation of PTCL to Etisalat.
NAB sources said that in an internal investigation it has been proved that the privatisation agreement was vague and one-sided and action must be taken against those responsible for handing over the PTCL to Etisalat. The handing over of all PTCL properties to Etisalat was not part of the deal, they added.
Sources said the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) took notice of the non-payment of $800 million to Pakistan.
They said later PAC ordered NAB to investigate the deal agreement and non- payment of $800 million, adding that but NAB has refused to take up the matter. They said further both Pakistan and UAE agreed to resolve the matter through backdoor channels and Dar had met Etisalat officials in this regard. PAC too has not taken up the matter in the recent meetings.