ISLAMABAD – The National Accountability Bureau’s executive board has decided to investigate allegations against former military dictator Pervez Musharraf for “holding assets beyond means”.
The NAB executive board will also investigate the former president for “wrongful use of power” and owning properties exceeding his salary competence.
NAB chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal, also ordered investigations against various current and former officials, including Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Moonis Elahi and PTI leader Aleem Khan for owning offshore companies; and President Bank of Punjab Naeemud Din Khan, for having assets beyond means.
On February 9, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had redefined NAB’s powers, allowing the bureau to investigate ex-military men, especially retired generals, and directed it to investigate Musharraf for his alleged corruption while holding his office.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/nab-authoirsed-to-probe-ex-army-chief-musharraf-over-corruption/
The February judgment cleared a 19-year-old ambiguity in the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) due to which NAB had always shown reluctance in proceeding against retired army officers despite complaints of corruption against them.
The matter was taken to the IHC by retired Lt Col Inamur Rahim in 2014, who sought a probe into the alleged corruption done by Musharraf.
In his complaint filed some five years ago, the petitioner had asked NAB to hold an inquiry into the allegation that the general, in his nomination papers, had declared assets which were beyond his known sources of income.
According to the petitioner, Musharraf, as chief of the army staff as well as the president of Pakistan, had violated his oath according to which he was duty bound to defend the country and protect its citizens.
Inam had referred to page 237 of Musharraf’s book, In the Line of Fire, and its chapter titled ‘Man Hunt’ to point out that the former military ruler admitted to handing over a large number of people to the US “in order to make money”.
The petitioner had also alleged that Musharraf “injected corruption into the senior hierarchy of the armed forces by allotting them plots over and above their entitlements”.
During Friday’s meeting, the NAB Executive Board also authorised corruption references against former CDA chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, former CDA member finance Syed-ur-Rehman, former NICL chairman Abid Javaid Akbar, the FDBIL management and others for misusing authority for causing huge loss to national exchequer.
The executive board also approved inquiries against Pakistani Ambassador in Cuba Kamran Shafi, officers of Federal Tax Ombudsman and FBR, former minister housing Akram Khan Durrani, managing director CEOPHA Foundation Jamil Ahmad Khan, Zafryab Khan, Tariq Javaid, Makhdoom Umar Shahriyar, Habib Waqas, Ilyas Mehraj, former DG Pakistan Railways Muhammad Qureshi, Jahangir Sadique, officials of Sindh Social Relief Fund, officials of Provincial Housing Authority KPK, officials of PHA KPK, Additional IG Police Balochistan Dr Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, chairman Larkana Development Authority Amir Zaib Jataoi, Munir Ahmad, Naeem Khan, Sindh Development Organisation, EXEN Irrigation department Ghotki Muhammad Shareef Mugheri, and director SIDA Ghotki.
The NAB’s executive board, during the meeting, ordered closure of inquiries against Balochistan health officials and the officers of National Bank of Pakistan’s Bahrain branch, and others.
