NAB decides to open new corruption inquiry against Shehbaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday decided to open new corruption inquiry against former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif. The executive board of the NAB has given the approval to file six new corruption references during a session held under the chair of Justice (rtd) Javed Iqbal. A declaration of the anti-graft watchdog body confirmed the approval to file six references. A reference will be filed against the former chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Farzana Raja. The institution will file corruption references against Sikander Javed and others over charges of illegally awarding contracts.  An inquiry will be initiated against Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) central leader Nisar Khuhro. The NAB’s executive board will hold an inquiry against Shehbaz Sharif in Cholistan Development Authority case. The PML-N president is accused of illegal allotment of Cholistan Authority’s land. An inquiry has also been approved against former federal minister Balighur Rehman. The bureau approved filing of illegal contract reference against Sikander Javed and others in Saaf Pani case. Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal has also approved an corruption inquiry against PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah. The NAB will approve for legal steps against four advertisement companies over handing over the contract of running an illegal ad campaign. The legal steps are being taken following the financial loss to the national exchequer worth Rs1.46 billion, the declaration said. Addressing a meeting of the NAB Executive Board on Tuesday, Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal said that the NAB was strictly following the policy of accountability for all. “It is our top priority to take the mega corruption cases to logical end,” he said. Javed Iqbal said that references of 630 cases had been filed in different courts adding that the corruption watchdog body had recovered Rs 73 billion directly or indirectly over the last 25 months. He said 1,270 corruption references involving Rs910 billion were currently being heard in different accountability courts of the country. The NAB chairman directed all directors general to ensure completion of complaint verifications, inquiries and investigations within the prescribed timeframe.