LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday arrested six suspects involved in the NHA corruption case.

Separately, NAB chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal constituted a team to investigate money laundering and possessing assets beyond the known sources of income charges against two former MPAs of PML-Zia, and others.

In the NHA case, the NAB said suspects Imran, Sufian, Waseem, Amin, Khursheed and Asim misappropriated Rs150 million in the construction of the road between Lahore and Mian Channu. They are also accused of selling 23 kanal agricultural land after getting it declared commercial.

NAB arrested them after their pre-arrest bail was dismissed by the court. The arrested suspects will be presented before the accountability court on Thursday for physical remand.

Meanwhile, the NAB chairman formed a JIT comprising NAB, SECP, FIA, SBP and FBR officials to probe former Tehsil Nazim Muhammad Yaseen, ex-MPAs Saeed Ahmed and Ghazal Shaheen of PML-Z from Bahawalnagar and others for accumulation of assets beyond their known sources of income and money laundering.

According to NAB, the JIT will inquire into the issues of tax evasion and money laundering, collect the relevant record and examine the witnesses. The JIT is tasked with concluding its probe in 90 days and submit its findings and recommendations to the NAB chairman.

ACE: Anti-Corruption Establishment head Gohar Nafees has made an Apex Investigation Review Team to review the progress on mega corruption cases. The team members include directors vigilance, admin, legal and technical.

Progress on all high-profile cases such as sugar mills, flour scandal, illegal occupation of state land and crackdown on illegal petrol pumps will be reviewed and reported to the DG on a daily basis, says its spokesperson.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2020