Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Balochistan has collected evidence on alleged involvement of 30 political figures and bureaucrats in corruption following the arrest of finance secretary Balochistan Mushtaq Raisani.

Efforts are under way to arrest finance advisor Balochistan Khalid Lango who resigned from his office. NAB has sent a second notice for summoning him.

Contradictory reports about Khalid Lango have been received by NAB sources. There is a report that Khalid Lango has fled and reached Kandhar. The second report says that he is arranging to seek protective bail in Karachi. NAB Balochistan has also received evidence on corruption in funds amounting to Rs 42 billion which were released in connection with sewerage and drainage system in Quetta during former chief minister Balochistan Dr Malik’s tenure. Investigations have been launched formally in this matter.

Well placed sources said that these funds were issued to C and W department during Dr Malik’s government for sewerage and drainage system. In fact Quetta Development Authority is there to do this work but Dr Malik and the finance secretary ignored it and assigned this work to C and W department while this department is mandated to carry out construction work and monitor it in the highways department.

Sources said this contract was awarded at the behest of chief of National Party Hasil Bazenjo. The motive behind awarding this contract was killing two birds with one stone because Sardar Sanaullah Zehri was to wait for two and a half year to be appointed as chief minister of the province under the Murree agreement. He was handed over C and W department and was provided funds of Rs 42 billion for sewerage and drainage system in Quetta but no improvement has been witnessed in this system in the provincial metropolis.

NAB Balochistan is moving its investigation ahead on a fast track basis in the light of all this information. During the course of investigation NAB Balochistan came to know that the absconding former finance advisor had purchased a precious watch at the cost of 300,000 dirhams and gifted it to a VIP.

NAB is investigating about Khalid Lango and his partner Majeed. The latter has constructed a mega commercial plaza in Quetta and he is charged with illegally occupying 3000 acres of state land.

It is stated about Majid Khan Achakzai that he is a close relative of Mehmood Khan Achakzai, MNA.

Sources said that NAB was investigating against the private secretary to arrested finance secretary Balochistan at present. A decision has been taken to make investigations from the secretary’s budget.

According to sources corruption was committed in Balochistan in the guise of development works and the whole chain of bureaucrats was part of this massive corruption. Therefore, the NAB investigation is under way into suspicious matters of additional secretary monitoring development, deputy secretary development, deputy secretary finance, deputy director LFA, secretary health, DG health services, CPO, secretary Abdul Haleem Brohi, Additional chief secretary development, secretary planning, chief economic affairs, DG Implementation, Joint chief economic affairs, additional secretary, deputy secretary Habibullah Bangalzai, former minister Ameen Imrani, Asim Iqbal member board of revenue-2, secretary excise and taxation, additional secretary agriculture and two sitting provincial ministers.

Following the arrest of Mushtaq Raisani, NAB Balochistan has arrested contractor Sohail Majid and one XEN Tariq Ali. Now another accused Asad Shah has also been nabbed and his physical remand has also been obtained. NAB sources said that on the information of the accused persons they are moving the investigation forward. NAB has issued a second notice to Khalid Lango for appearing before it.

Sources said that NAB Balochistan was making concerted efforts to arrest Khalid Lango so that the matter is not suspended due to his fleeing. NAB investigation officers have given their opinion to their high ups that the escape of Khalid Lango will create problems for several political figures. NAB Balochistan is sure to achieve a breakthrough within a few days.