Management of firm co-owned by Zardari, Bilawal 'willfully avoided' proceedings: NAB
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The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday clarified why an inquiry was initiated against Park Lane Estate Company (Pvt) Ltd — a firm co-owned by former president Asif Ali Zardari and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari — and government officials for alleged illegal transfer of forest land.
In a press release, the bureau stated that an inquiry was authorised into allegations that land belonging to the Punjab Forest Department was illegally transferred by Capital Development Authority (CDA) officials to Park Lane Estate Company, a Karachi-based real estate firm.
"The manager, attorney holder, and director of Park Lane Estate Company were repeatedly summoned; however, they have willfully avoided joining the proceedings of NAB," the statement said.
On December 9, the bureau sent notices to Zardari and Bilawal to appear before it in Rawalpindi on Dec 13 in connection with the transfer of land to Park Lane Estate Company.
Today's press release notes that Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan's records indicate that Zardari and Bilawal are 50 per cent shareholders of the real estate firm.
Detailing earlier findings of the investigation, NAB said: "It [was] revealed that the revenue officers in connivance with CDA officers, on application from Park Lane Estate Company, illegally extended undue benefit [to the real estate firm] through demarcation and handing over possession of 118.4 kanals [of] forest land."
NAB found that revenue officers "forged and tampered the revenue record(s)" while CDA officers "misused their authority to hand over possession of state land to Park Lane Estate Company".
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Comments (44) Closed
Dec 11, 2018 11:46pm
They are above the law, if you push for it they will play the Sindh card.
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Dec 11, 2018 11:57pm
I am glad to see that trend of corruption is being reversed. I congratulate all those officials for their bravery to bring powerful corrupt individuals to court and answer for any ill-gotten money and assets. It was necessary to restore law and order in the country, otherwise every one would have accepted corruption, kickbacks and bribery as a normal way of doing business and running the country. May Almighty bless those honest officials for their service to the country and the society.
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Dec 11, 2018 11:59pm
That's why Zardari said: "how dare NAB chairman touch him". He thinks he is 'untouchable'!
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Dec 12, 2018 12:03am
After 21 years ,Zia regime is back.
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Dec 12, 2018 12:33am
Both own only 50 percent? oh wait, the other 50 percent is likely owned by fake owners.
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Dec 12, 2018 12:36am
Why are we even discussing this. The zardaris are guilty. They should be put behind bars and no questions asked.
These are rotten people who have robbed the good citizens of Pakistan for several decades.
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Dec 12, 2018 12:37am
CJP jagoo! He is procrastinating the case it till you retire.
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Dec 12, 2018 12:45am
Both father and son are on spot lights for their black activities! This is why it is said that 'like father, like son'.
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Dec 12, 2018 12:55am
These people have enough influence in Sindh to do whatever they like. Zardari and his son continue to fool the people of Sindh but I am fairly confident that their days are numbered. Whether they go to prison or not, there is a very small minority (mostly illiterate and poor people of Sindh) who still believe that this duo will change their lives. The fact that Zardari and his son are only interested in making money is not hidden from anyone in the know. In Sindh nepotism is rife and no one gets any employment (private or government) without a parchi from someone influential. PPP has destroyed Sindh and it will take generations to bring the province back to its formal glory.
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Dec 12, 2018 01:15am
No apologetic approach bring them in.
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Dec 12, 2018 01:16am
Can hear screams a loud fearing Noose is tightening !
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Dec 12, 2018 01:23am
How can Zardari be blamed. He bought the land at asking price.
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Dec 12, 2018 01:32am
I suspect the duo may be planning a long vacation in Dubai or London before December 13. Unless some one takes the steps to put their names on ECL too!
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Dec 12, 2018 01:34am
put these 2 behind bars
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Dec 12, 2018 01:39am
when will NAB put this duo in jail, like SS?
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Dec 12, 2018 01:54am
Dear NAB and media, please get the culprits of this beautiful country, please get them all. We would be made strong and just but please be active and smart as well.
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Dec 12, 2018 01:55am
Here it comes, listen...3...2...1...whining tantrums of "selective accountability"
Every crook who gets caught complains of being unfairly targeted.
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Dec 12, 2018 02:08am
It's not just forest land, lands of many farmers, and other defenceless owners also usurped.
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Dec 12, 2018 02:13am
serve a legal notice by mail to the legal address, if party fails to appear, declare absconders and issue arrest warrants with names added to the ECL, and freeze all assets. no appearance still, liquidate al assets and cancel passport.
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Dec 12, 2018 03:22am
‘NAB found that revenue officers "forged and tampered the revenue record(s)" while CDA officers "misused their authority to hand over possession of state land to Park Lane Estate Company".’
Dont spare the Tevenue and CDA officers, who betrayed the public, for whom they serve. They should get life in jail. Do name and shame them.
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Dec 12, 2018 03:26am
This family has been looting the nation for decades. How much more money do they need until they decide to put Pakistan First. It's a shame that these people represent Pakistan's most educated, elite.
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Dec 12, 2018 03:30am
Men greed never ends, you may own a cinema house, sugar mills,more than 50 bungalows,hotels,Palaces, and luxury houses abroad, but still the greed is unlimited, unfortunately the shroud has no pockets, some Swiss banks have millions of Swiss Francs unclaimed , as the corrupt depositor did not disclose any heir on his application, certainly the amount goes to Swiss Banks. Ironically our political parties are headed by arrogant cunny persons, who have no wish to serve the people rather keep on extracting money for own benefits. Today the country is facing trade deficit only due to bad policies of some dishonest politicians. The accountability courts and bureau are taking actions slow and with fear, they might gain power. Only swift severe punishments can deter such influential persons, that’s need of day. All their properties must be seized, and all accounts freezed, all names on ECL, unless they return all illgotten wealth.
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Dec 12, 2018 04:13am
Best efforts by PMIK
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Dec 12, 2018 04:25am
Will action be taken against those corrupt officers too?
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Dec 12, 2018 04:25am
Send these looters to prison. We already know they have bribed govt officials. What else do you want to know.
Send them to adiala on a diet of water and roti.
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Dec 12, 2018 04:46am
You dig out more, you will find more. Even they may not know how much they amassed during their years. But one day the noose can be tightened...
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Dec 12, 2018 05:10am
NAB please get all the crooks as soon as possible
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Dec 12, 2018 05:23am
Pin them down!
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Dec 12, 2018 05:30am
How Bilawal Zardari can be different than his corrupt father Asif Zardari.
Our people and whole nation has to wake up and demand our government and courts to put these politicians in jails and their properties confiscated. Sincerely
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Dec 12, 2018 05:34am
If it is true, then they both(father and son) should be disqualified from politics for life in addition to the punishment imposed by the court.
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Dec 12, 2018 06:08am
Unending drama of probes into corruption in high places with no conviction or recoveries of looted monies, which may have been conveniently parked abroad, either in form of expansive real estate holding or Swiss accounts. Realistically speaking, those wishing to lay hands on these hundreds of billions parked abroad, may have to wait years together involving litigations in foreig lands, costing fortunes without assurance of positive outcome.
One alternative to reduce gestion period of this arduous journey, is to affect changes in the laws, making the prosecution of such snail paced cases to move faster, & conviction the accused possible in months rather than years.But keeping present make up of the parliament, it would be a Herculean undertaking. The second most feasible alternative is to provide protection & monetary incentive to crown & other key witnesses, to flush out incriminating evidence, resulting in conviction & recovery of looted money. The nation anxiously awaits results.
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Dec 12, 2018 06:10am
So many cases going on against this evil. Why NAB and FIA are not arresting him? Please don't let Zardari and Bilawal go this time!!!! Please don't let people of Pakistan denied justice who were forced to live below the poverty line and inhuman conditions for the last 30 year because of the corruption of the elites and powerful like Nawaz and Zardari !!!!
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Dec 12, 2018 07:18am
Shame on PPP. If Bilawal continues to stand with Asif Zardari then he would continue to be associated with corruption.
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Dec 12, 2018 07:49am
@Adeeb,
Mr. Adeeb,
Exactly.
The literacy rate In the rural areas of Sindh is worse than the rural areas of other provinces.
In 40-45 years PPP has deliberately left the people of these areas illiterate and uneducated, so this most corrupt regional political party easily misuse ethnicity in such areas.
Non-Sindhis in this party are show-people nothing else.
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Dec 12, 2018 07:51am
Time for that urgent trip to Dubai or London??
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Dec 12, 2018 07:56am
@Abbasshah ,
Mr. Abbasshah,
There was corruption during the regime of Ayub, Yahya, Zia and Musharraf.
But the regimes of PPP and PML-N are worst.
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Dec 12, 2018 08:06am
Zardaris, Shariffs, their family members and frirnds, will all be in jails very soon. The whole country is behind Naya Pakistan except the above mentions looters.
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Dec 12, 2018 09:10am
Father and the son must be immediately put behind the bars and then from the jail they can prove their innocence through my law teacher Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan otherwise calling them to appear before NAB or any court will be ignored and avoided by them in any case which must not be tolerated any more. Why the hell court accepts their bail before arrest when they are accused of in many cases? Iqbal Hadi Zaidi
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Dec 12, 2018 03:35pm
@Abbasshah , so stopping corruption is that?
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Dec 12, 2018 05:56pm
So zardari has no shame to have his son involved in corruption and dishonesty!
These guys may never have thought that there is always a limit to greed.
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Dec 12, 2018 07:20pm
Based on the evidence gathered by NAB, both father and son be in jail for their fake accounts and black activities.
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Dec 13, 2018 03:52am
@Adeeb,
correction ''They will play the democracy is in danger card and also the 18th amendment card too "
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Dec 14, 2018 02:48am
@bhaRAT©, zardari should have
Charged for making such statements.
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Dec 14, 2018 06:50am
@Ahsan Gul,
Mr. Ahsan Gul,
Shame?
Shameful people are not like Zardaris, Bhuttos, Talpurs, Memons, Shahs, Shareefs, Babars, Naiks, Rabbanis, Aitezazs, etc.
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