ISLAMABAD: Newly-elected PTI senator Abdul Qadir and 11 other accused will be indicted in the Rs46 million corruption reference.

The accountability court of Islamabad has fixed May 18 for framing charges against them.

According to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the accused were members of the Financial Bid Opening Committee of the Workers Welfare Fund (WWF) constituted to examine the financial proposal of the bid received in pursuance to the tender notice for procurement of land for establishing a medical college and teaching hospital in Islamabad.

They are accused of causing a loss of Rs466.2 million to the national exchequer through corrupt practices.

During the investigation, it was also established that the chairman of the Financial Bid Committee and Site Selection Committee illegally and with mala fide intentions recommended and got approved procurement of 151 kanals and four marlas from the governing body for establishment of a medical college and teaching hospital in Islamabad at exorbitant rates in gross violation of the notice inviting tender and caused a loss to the national exchequer.

Court fixes May 18 to frame charges against accused

According to NAB, the accused willfully and knowingly recommended purchase of 150 kanals at a rate of Rs3.7 million per kanal.

As per the reference, the federal government, in collaboration with the provincial government, had initiated a project worth over Rs2 billion titled ‘Water Conservation and Productivity Enhancement through High Efficiency Irrigation System in Pakistan’ for the purpose of increasing agriculture production by using available irrigation water efficiently during 2007-2012.

“During the course of inquiry, it came to surface that 182 such schemes worth Rs320m were approved. These included 158 schemes initiated in 15 districts of Khyber Pakhtun­khwa,” NAB stated.

It noted that most of the schemes were undertaken in Bannu and Lakki Marwat districts and only five were found functional, it said.

“The accused, in connivance with each other, released payments for bogus and incomplete schemes,” the bureau alleged.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2021