ISLAMABAD: An amended list of 150 major financial scandals being pursued by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) shows that a number of inquiries against important political leaders like Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, initiated in 1999 and 2000, have still not been closed and in some cases the amount involved is yet to be determined.

The modified list was submitted by NAB on Monday in compliance with directives of a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja which had rejected on July 7 the earlier list because it did not mention when the cases had been initiated.

The fresh list of 44 pages — 10 more than the earlier document — highlights 50 cases each of financial scam, land scam and abuse of power. Of them, 71 cases in the three categories are in the inquiry stage, 41 in that of investigation and 38 references have been filed and are pending in accountability courts.

Two columns have been added in the amended list, showing the date of receipt of complaints and the dates when these were verified or authorised by the NAB officials concerned.

The list contains the names of the politicians, including former federal and provincial ministers, and also senior bureaucrats and individuals from the banking and financial sector.

A case against the prime minister, initiated on the complaint of retired Maj Gen M.H. Ansari on March 22, 1999, for illegal appointments in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), has been under process over the past 16 years.

NAB has given Sept 30 this year as the expected date of completion of the case.

Another case against the prime minister and his brother, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, for misusing their authority in the Rs126 million construction of a road from Raiwind to their family house, is also under investigation. The case which was initiated on a complaint by an informer is also expected to be completed by Sept 30.

An investigation against Finance Minister Dar for amassing wealth beyond means by misusing authority was initiated on the basis of a report on Dec 11, 2000 but no expected date of completion has been mentioned in the list. The investigation is in progress and the amount involved is mentioned in the document as over Rs23m plus $1,250m plus 3,488m pound sterling.

“If NAB wants to command people’s respect, it should complete the investigations and focus on prosecution in accountability courts,” a senior lawyer said.

A case against former president Asif Ali Zardari for amassing assets of Rs22 billion plus $1.5bn beyond his known sources of income was transferred from the Ehtesab commission introduced by Prime Minister Sharif during his last government, is in the trial stage.

Former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, former finance minister Shaukat Tareen, former Pepco chief Tahir Basharat Cheema, secretary for water and power Shahid Rafi and others are facing investigations over rental power producer contracts.

Former caretaker prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Punjab’s former chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi are facing proceedings for allegedly misusing their authority to the tune of Rs2.4bn.

Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is being investigated for misuse of authority in illegal appointment of Tauqir Sadiq as Ogra chairman. The loss to the exchequer is estimated at Rs46m. Mr Sadiq is also facing corruption cases of Rs80bn.

Former Balochistan chief minister Nawab Aslam Raisani is facing investigations for misusing authority in recruitment but the size of the corruption has not yet been determined. Another case of Rs100m against the former chief minister is also being inquired into.

Former Balochistan sports minister Shah Nawaz Marri is facing charges of misuse of authority to the tune of Rs8bn.

Published in Dawn ,July 14th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play