NAB okays investigations viz. Sharifs, others

LAHORE: The executive board of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday approved new investigation against former PM Nawaz Sharif, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and others.
NAB Chairperson Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal said the anti-corruption body is making utmost efforts to eradicate the country of illegal activities and corruption, according to a statement issued here on Tuesday.
He said that NAB’s foremost priority is to see to the conclusion of mega corruption cases.
The meeting approved an investigation against Nawaz Sharif but made no mention of the nature of the probe.
“All inquiries and investigations have been ordered on the basis of accusations raised and are in no way final or binding,” said the statement.
“NAB will strive to obtain the stance of all those involved, as per the law, after which it will decide whether or not to proceed with the inquiry,” it added.
It also approved inquiries against former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif, former senator Sartaj Aziz, former deputy inspector-general (DIG) of Punjab traffic police Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan, member of the Punjab Assembly Meher Hamid Rasheed, former members of the Punjab Assembly Ateeq-ur-Rehman and Sheikh Ijaz Ahmed, Faisalabad Heaven Villas developer Meher Abdul Rauf, and the defaulting PhD scholars of the University of Punjab.
Moreover, it approved separate investigations against Shehbaz Sharif, former secretary to Punjab chief minister Javed Mahmood, former Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director-general Ahad Khan Cheema, and others.
It also accorded approval for a probe into illegal activities by Earth Resource Private Limited (ERPL) chief executive and others accused of taking undue advantage of their position.
In addition, inquiries against the management, officers, and members of the environment management company Faisalabad Industrial Estate and Development Management Company (FIEDMC), the Punjab Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (PIEDMC), Lahore Transport Company, Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company, and the Gujranwala West Management Company were ordered shut due to a lack of evidence, as per law.
According to the statement, the anti-graft watchdog has deposited Rs466 billion into the national exchequer recovered directly or indirectly while probing unlawful elements, “which is a record achievement”. – TLTP