Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Prime minister Nawaz Sharif has taken serious notice of complaints of corruption against some of his cabinet members as well as National Assembly Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), sources told Daily Times.

The premier has directed the accused ministers and the deputy speaker to prove their innocence, adding that if found guilty, they would no longer be part of the cabinet, sources said.

Sources said that the prime minister also directed such ministers to face NAB enquiries and ensure their presence at the NAB Headquarters when summoned. Same instructions have been issued to PML-N parliamentarians, in case their name is brought up in the enquiries.

The accountability bureau is currently investigating cases against Minister for National Food Security Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, Federal Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi and PML-N MNAs Iftikharul Hasan and Rana Hayat Khan. They have reportedly been accused of corruption, misuse of authority, fraud and misappropriation of funds, sources revealed.

When Daily Times contacted Federal Minister for Food and Security Sikandar Hayat Bosan, he called all the allegations baseless and on politically motivated. “I am not involved in any corruption. All the allegations are baseless, while the complaint against me is based on political grounds,” he said.

“It is true that I purchased a piece of land measuring 250 acres in Muzaffargarh in 2001-02, but I sold it after four to five years to my relatives. There is nothing wrong in that,” minister said.

He also refuted allegations that he forcibly acquired the land. “I did not grab or forcibly took the land from anyone, as I am not part of any qabza (encroachment) mafia. I am ready to face the NAB enquiry. They have not summoned me yet, but I have submitted my written reply to the NAB on the complaint against me,” Sikandar said.

Similarly, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi also offered himself for accountability, and said he was ready to face the NAB enquiry in the Capital Development Authority (CDA) corruption cases.