NAB inquiry: FIA bars PML-N’s Rana Mashood from traveling abroad

LAHORE (92 News) – The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) stopped Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Mashood at the Allama Iqbal International Airport from traveling to the United States on Saturday. Mashood, who remained Punjab sports minister in the tenure of Shehbaz Sharif as chief minister, reached the airport to travel to the US, but he was not allowed to travel on grounds that his name had been included in the black list by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). He has been facing the NAB inquiry into the corruption allegations linking to the Punjab Youth Festival 2011-12. Sources said Mashood was attempting to escape abroad to avoid the NAB investigations, but the authorities foiled his attempt because of inclusion of his name in the black list. Mashood in his reaction said as he reached the airport, the authorities informed him that he couldn't travel because of being black listed by NAB. "When I asked about his involvement in any case, the officials expressed ignorance about it," Mashood said and added the FIA officials later told NAB that he was not wanted in any case and be allowed to travel. Mashood further said the officials wasted him time because of ignorance and he got his flight missed. Furthermore, NAB asked Rana Mashood to appear before an inquiry team on July 8. The inquiry against Mashood followed the arrest of former Director General Sports Punjab Usman Anwar by NAB. Anwar has been in the bureau’s custody after an accountability court had issued his 14-day physical remand on June 22. During the hearing, the NAB had requested the court to grant his 15-day remand. The NAB prosecutor said that former DG Sports Usman Anwar had misused his authority. The court ordered to produce the accused again on July 6. Earlier on Friday, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has arrested former Punjab DG Sports Usman Anwar for corruption charges. He faces the charge of misappropriating millions of rupees in the contracts of Punjab Youth Festival held in 2011 and 2012. He also violated the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PEPRA) rules. He will be presented in an accountability court for physical remand on Saturday.