Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to continue investigations into the corruption charges against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, three former prime ministers and several bureaucrats, says a report submitted to the Supreme Court on 179 mega financial scams.

The NAB had been directed to complete investigations into two cases involving the prime minister and the Punjab chief minister by March 31, but it submitted to the court that these investigations were still under way.

The report said that inquiries into 49 cases of misuse of power and financial irregularities were under way and references had been filed in courts in 68 cases.

The report said that investigations were under way into charges against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, former prime ministers Raja Pervez Ashraf, Yusuf Raza Gilani and Chaudhry Shujat Hussain. They have been accused of misuse of power.

According to the NAB report, 34 cases have been registered against the politicians holding public offices and 39 cases have been registered against those who looted money through housing schemes. Investigation into the construction of the Raiwind Road at the cost of Rs 126 million is under way against Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif. The NAB has also decided to continue investigations into the allegations of illegal appointments to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s last tenure.

The NAB has decided to continue investigation into the rental power case involving former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, former finance minister Shaukat Tareen and former secretary Shahid Rafi. An investigation into the charges against former information secretary Shahid Rafi is under way because he allegedly gave licences to people for FM radio stations in violation of the rules.

An investigation is under way into the allegations against former prime minister Chaudhry Shujat Hussain and former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi who allegedly accumulated assets amounting to Rs 2.428 billion illegally. An investigation into the Rs 5.5 billion scam against the Balochistan Police will continue. An investigation into a case of illegal assets against Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar will also continue.

The NAB has also decided to continue investigations into 39 cases of illegal sale and purchase of land. As per the report, investigations into a Rs 600 million scam involving the OGDCL Cooperative Housing Society and Rs 244 million scam involving former Sindh secretary Nasir Hayat have been completed. Investigations into a 13,100 kanal land case involving DHA Valley in Islamabad and 300 kanal land fraud case involving the Housing Ministry are under way. An inquiry into the illegal sale of plots in the Diplomatic Enclave by the officials of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is also under way.

The NAB has decided to continue the investigation into the charges against the CDA officials who illegally launched a joint venture in collaboration with the Professional Cooperative Housing Society. Investigation into the illegal allotment of cinema in G-9 Karachi Company is also under way. The NAB has also decided to continue investigations into the charges against the Pakistan Employees Cooperative Housing Society (Islamabad), National Assembly Secretariat Cooperative Housing Society (Manzar-e-Kohsar) and Arbab Housing Society. The matter of allotment of plots to the NNP Group for a Grand Hyat Regency Hotel near the Convention Centre is also being investigated. Investigation into a Rs 2.520 billion fraud case involving the National Police Foundation will continue and progress has been made on an investigation into the charges against the revenue officials linked to a Rs 5 billion fraud. Investigation is under way into the charges against Capital Builders, Tele Town and the Medical Cooperative Housing Society. Inquiries are also under way into the charges against Mehvish Jahangir, Jahangir Siddiqui and former Balochistan chief minister Nawab Aslam Raeesani in bank loan cases. Investigations are under way into charges against Mian Mansha.

The NAB report said that 67 cases were pending hearing in accountability courts against different institutions and important figures. An Rs 22 billion assets case against former president Asif Ali Zardari is also pending hearing.

Cases against Tauqeer Sadiq, Pervez Ashraf, Shaukat Tareen and others are pending hearing in the courts. Five references have been filed against Pervez Ashraf. A case of Rs 46 million on account of misuse of power is pending hearing against former Yusuf Raza Gilani, says the report, which was submitted by the NAB chairman to the Supreme Court on April 22.