ISLAMABAD – The executive board of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) approved the filing of three supplementary references against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and widening the scope of investigations against the embattled Sharif family.
The inquiries were approved during the meeting chaired by the graft-buster’s Chief retired Justice Javed Iqbal, at the bureau’s headquarters on Monday.
Three supplementary references against the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’ ‘Quaid for life’ relate to Flagship Investment, Azizia Steel Mills and Avenfield properties, already filed in an accountability court.
Kulsoom Nawaz, Hamza to face inquiry
The PML-N leaders set to face NAB inquiries on separate corruption charges are Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, MNA Hamza Shahbaz and Minister of State for Information Technology Anusha Rehman.
The accountability watchdog okayed an inquiry against the owners of the Chaudhry Sugar Mills — including Nawaz Sharif, CM Punjab Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza Shehbaz, Kulsoom Nawaz and Marriyum Nawaz — for owning assets beyond known sources of income.
A complaint regarding their involvement in suspicious transactions was received from the Financial Management Unit of State Bank of Pakistan.
Ishaq Dar
A supplementary reference was also approved against former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for owning assets beyond known sources of income.
Mr Dar, Anusha Rehman, and former Pakistan Telecommunication Authority chairman Ismail Shah are facing an inquiry for illegally awarding a Next Generation Mobile Services contract.
Imran’s Aide Zulfi Bokhari
The accountability regulator also approved an inquiry against the owner of 15 companies named in the Panama Papers — Zulfikar Bukhari, the son of Wajid Bokhari (who is said to be a friend of PTI Chief Imran Khan and is accused of owning assets beyond known sources of income).
Inquiry Against CM Khattak
According to the communique issued, an inquiry will be conducted against Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervaiz Khattak, KP Chief Secretary Khalid Pervaiz and others for leasing out 275 acres of forest land in Malam Jabba to Siemens Group of Companies through abuse of authority and corruption.
The illegal leasing had inflicted damage to the national exchequer as per NAB. The meeting also approved an inquiry against KP officers who illegally allowed the PTI chief to use the provincial government’s helicopter.
Inquiry Against Panama-papers tainted tycoons
NAB also approved an inquiry against Bashir Dawood, Marriyum Dawood and others for allegedly owning an offshore company named in the Panama Papers.
Moreover, Senator Usman Saifullah and others will also face inquiry for owning over 34 offshore companies identified in the Panama Papers.
Abdul Sattar Dero, the managing director of Port Qasim Authority, and others will also face an inquiry for the same reason.
Ahad Cheema
A supplementary reference was also given go-ahead against the former director of the Lahore Development Authority, Ahad Cheema, and others accused of corruption and abuse of power.
Paragon Society
An inquiry was approved against the management of Paragon City Private Limited as they are accused of swindling people.
