NAB can again recommend Bilawal, Murad’s names on ECL: Shahzad

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar said on Thursday that the names of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah can again be included in ECL after removal, if NAB believes there is a sufficient reason for it. Briefing the decisions taken in cabinet meeting while addressing to the press conference, Shahzad Akbar said that the federal cabinet has decided to send the JIT report on money laundering and fake bank accounts case immediately to NAB as directed by Supreme Court of Pakistan. He also said that the JIT report clearly indicates that money laundering and other serious crimes were committed. He said due to grave nature of crimes involved, the role of JIT has been maintained unlike other cases where JIT was dissolved after completing the task assigned to it. Shahzad Akbar said the JIT will not only assist NAB in its investigation and probe, but also investigate such things which fall under the category of other offences. The special assistant to PM said based on the evidence in JIT report, NAB can file sixteen references and it has to complete its investigation in two months' time. He said it has been decided that these cases will be filed in accountability courts in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, rather than Karachi. Referring to the issue of names of 172 persons on ECL, he said special review committee of the Interior Ministry has been directed to review the issue in light of the directions of the Supreme Court. He said the names of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister can again be included in ECL after removal, if NAB believes there is a sufficient reason for it. However, he clarified that name of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and other accused will not be removed from JIT report. On the occasion, Special Assistant to PM on Media Affairs Iftikhar Durrani said cabinet also gave approval for the auction of 15 out of twenty ships of Ministry of National Food Security. The cabinet gave approval to supplementary grant of 235 million rupees for government employees who die in service. The Federal cabinet also approved a supplementary grant of 750 million rupees for NAB to increase its capacity of prosecution. It also accorded approval to appoint Amir Azeem, member technical PTA to its chairman.