–Anti-graft bureau’s Lahore DG briefs Justice (r) Javed Iqbal about ongoing mega corruption probes
LAHORE: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal on Wednesday directed NAB Lahore officials to complete the ongoing investigations of all cases within 10 months, in which the accused might be issued call-up notices without any delay.
Speaking during a meeting held at NAB Lahore’s office, he said that leading towards the betterment of the country was the bureau’s prime focus and all investigating officers should work independently and on merit. “Investigation officers are the backbone of NAB,” he said, adding that NAB “saw the cases and not the faces of the accused”.
Earlier at the occasion, NAB Lahore Director General (DG) Shahzad Saleem gave a detailed briefing to the chairman about several important mega corruption cases as well as the complaints related to alleged corruption and embezzlements in different government and private departments.
He informed Justice (r) Javed Iqbal that ongoing mega corruption investigations included that against management of Ferozepur City Housing Scheme, accused Mudassar Qayyum Nahra and MNA Azhar Qayyum Nahra for allegedly having illegal assets beyond known sources of income, complaints against ex-federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique for allegedly purchasing 55 locomotives on exorbitant rates and granting land of Railways on illegal lease, former provincial minister Saiful Malook Khokhar against allegedly piling up illegal assets, MNA Nasir Iqbal Bosal for misuse of authority, former Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) chairman Siddiqul Farooq for illegally leasing ETPB Land and Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Chief Engineer Israr Saeed over alleged financial embezzlement in LDA’s development projects.
The NAB Lahore DG also apprised the anti-graft chief of complaints against senior Punjab Police officials’, former CCPO Amin Wanis, ex-DIG Haider Ashraf and others for acquiring illegal assets beyond their known sources of income, against University of Agriculture Faisalabad vice chancellor for allegedly making illegal appointments, LDA officials for financial embezzlement in expansion of Ferozpur Road to Multan Road and those against former minister Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo for alleged embezzlement during his tenure, to name a few.
