NAB seeks Justice (r) Javed Iqbal's approval for investigation against Sharjeel Memon

KARACHI - The National Accountability Bureau has completed its inquiry against Pakistan Peoples Party leader Sharjeel Inam Memon, said bureau's spokesman on Monday.

The accountability watchdog had launched an inquiry against the politician in the corruption and illegal asset cases and is awaiting its chairperson’s nod to start a formal investigation in this regard.

The bureau is also seeking the chairperson Justice (r) Javed Iqbal's approval for a reference against officers of the provincial anti-corruption department.

Besides the inquiry pertaining to assets beyond means, Sharjeel Inam Memon is facing several charges of misappropriation and corruption relating to the period when he was the Sindh Information Minister.

Memon, along with suspects, have been accused of corruption worth Rs5.76 billion in the award of advertisements of the Sindh government’s awareness campaigns in the electronic media.

It was alleged that advertising agencies suppressed invoices issued by the media and showed much higher amounts, while as per settled practice, advertising agencies were entitled to get only 15 percent agency commission against the total bill.

The reference filed by National Accountability Bureau said that Evernew Concepts (Pvt) Ltd was paid Rs4,154,585,676, Orient Communication Rs320,062,994, Adarts Karachi Rs317,338,970, Connect Marketing Rs310,474,132, Value Added Marketing Rs205,827,587, Xnine Communications Rs374,546,739 and Insync Advertisement was paid Rs83, 643,668.

Memon, who served as Sindh information minister till 2015, returned to Pakistan in March 2017 after ending his nearly two-year-long self-imposed exile; he was arrested on his arrival by NAB but later obtained bail.

The other accused in the case include former Sindh Information Secretary Zulfiqar Ali Shalwani, officials of the information department and members of private advertising agencies.

Memon was elected to the Public Accounts Committee Sindh, however, he resigned citing ongoing investigations against him.