Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has now tightened its noose around the irrigation minister of Murad Ali Shah’s cabinet, Suhail Anwar Khan Siyal, by initiating investigation into corruption charges against him, a well-placed source told Daily Times.

The NAB again stunned the political circles of the country by abruptly starting the probe against former Sindh interior minister Suhail Anwar Siyal, who is considered a close aide of former president Asif Ali Zardari. A source privy to this development said that the people from Sindh lodged complaints against Suhail Siyal by submitting solid evidence that he had accumulated assets beyond his tangible income.

The complainants also alleged that Suhail Siyal had misappropriated huge public funds allocated for development schemes in Larkana from where he is elected.

According to reports, the minister bought glorious “palaces” worth millions of rupees in posh areas of different cities of the country, and allegedly opened various banks account in commercial banks of Pakistan.

According to public complaints, Suhail Siyal had also owned properties in other countries, and had purchased fertile land in different areas of the province.

The NAB directorate in Sukkur informed NAB Chairman Chaudhry Qamar Zaman about the public complaints against Suhail Anwar Siyal and sought his consent for formally starting a probe against him. The source said that Qamar Zaman directed the NAB director general in Sukkur to initiate investigation against Suhail Siyal and complete preliminary investigation within not more than 10 weeks, as per the prevailing laws.

A senior NAB officer confirmed that the NAB chairman had formally allowed the Sukkur directorate to complete investigation before the forthcoming meeting of the NAB executive board.

The NAB chairman, who is in Europe on an official tour, also directed the officer concerned to put this issue on the roster of the forthcoming meeting of the executive board.