– AP Photo

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday formed a committee to review pending cases of white collar crimes involving politicians.

The decision to set up the committee was taken at a meeting of the bureau’s executive board presided over by NAB chairman Admiral (retd) Fasih Bokhari.

When asked about the meeting, NAB spokesman Shiraz Latif said: “While discussing some of the cases against politicians, the board constituted a committee to review the politically motivated cases against legislators pending since long.”

He said the NAB chief expressed annoyance over the delay in submission of the cases and directed officials to put these up as soon as possible.

Mr Latif quoted Admiral (retd) Bokhari as saying: “If in one case an accused is punished, the other cases against him should not take long. But all decisions should be taken on merit.”

An official handout said the board decided to hand over the scams of the Rawalpindi Employees Cooperative Housing Society and the National Assembly Cooperative Housing Society to a special division of the NAB for further investigations.

The officials concerned were directed to complete the inquiry within one week against Tariq Ayub Khakwani, a former deputy secretary of the National Assembly Secretariat who was accused of wrongdoing in the National Assembly Cooperative Housing Society.

The board authorised an inquiry against the telecom companies engaged in the business of long distance calls to ascertain whether or not they paid their fees and other dues.

It decided to refer the case of M/s Xtreme Defence System, Karachi, to Federal Board of Revenue for recovery of duties and taxes on the import of equipment.

The board asked the officers concerned to complete as soon as possible the investigations into the affairs of government officials who were accused of living beyond their means.