NAB chairman grants approval to investigate flour, sugar scandal

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice retired Javed Iqbal has given approval to investigate the wheat and sugar scandal. The approval for the investigation was given during a meeting of the bureau’s executive board on Tuesday. In a statement, the NAB said that all aspects of the flour and sugar crises will be investigated. “We are working towards making Pakistan free of corruption,” it added. The NAB will also thoroughly investigate into alleged smuggling of wheat and sugar and subsidies to the sectors. On Monday, the NAB has decided to launch an inquiry into the sugar and wheat scandals over the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) reports. The sources in NAB said that sugar and wheat crisis is a prime mega scandal and the corruption watchdog body will not remain silent into the scam of billions of rupees. The sources also said that the NAB is thoroughly reviewing the sugar, wheat scandal and will conduct a transparent inquiry into the matter. Earlier this month, the federal government had made public reports of a high-level inquiry into the sugar and wheat crises that had hit the people hard across the country in January. FIA Director General Wajid Zia carried out a probe into the crises and furnished their reports to the prime minister upon completion for perusal. Prime Minister Khan went through the report before these were made public. The report revealed PTI stalwart Jahangir Khan Tareen, a brother of Food Minister Khusro Bakhtiyar, and PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi are among the beneficiaries of the sugar crisis which took a serious toll on the people, especially the poor. Prime Minister Imran Khan vowed legal action against those responsible for the sugar and wheat price hike after the detailed forensic reports.