ISLAMABAD: Months after the ouster of former prime minister Imran Khan, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has started six inquiries and four investigations into alleged corruption in the Billion Tree Tsunami Afforestation Project aimed at implementing the ‘Green Growth Initiative’ in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The programme launched by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government to mitigate the impacts of climate change came under scrutiny after the issue was brought up in the meeting of the Public Accounts Committee – the apex parliamentary accountability body – and a recent letter to the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) by the climate change ministry for its audit.

On July 7, NAB submitted before the PAC that it was investigating the grafts allegations pertaining to plantations, including woodlots, enclosure, farm forestry (free distribution of plants) and procurement of seeds, polythene bags and similar equipment.

PAC asks anti-graft watchdog to revive Malam Jabba, Bank of Khyber probes, pursue BRT case in Supreme Court

According to a report, NAB’s Directorate General in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is conducting six inquiries and four investigations to probe these allegations. As per the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999, after receipt of a complaint, the bureau verifies the facts and then conducts an inquiry which is subsequently upgraded into an investigation.

Following the investigation, the anti-graft watchdog files reference in the accountability court after the approval of the chairman.

Revival of cases

The graft cases against the PTI leaders that were either stalled or scrapped will likely be revived after the PAC directed the bureau to revive the investigation into the Malam Jabba case and the Bank of Khyber scam. It also asked the bureau to pursue the BRT case in the Supreme Court.

In July last year, NAB had given a clean chit to Azam Khan, then prime minister’s principal secretary, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mehmood Khan and former defence minister Pervaiz Khattak in the 275-acre Malam Jabba skiing-chairlift resort case.

As per NAB’s report, the inquiry against them was authorised by the competent authority to probe the allegations of “lease of forest land measuring 270 acres”, “extension of lease period from 15 to 33 years” and “irregularities/violations in bidding process”.

The bureau was also probing the illegal appointments in the Bank of Khyber; however, this inquiry was closed a couple of years ago.

The parliamentary accountability body also asked NAB to approach the Supreme Court regarding the probe into the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in Peshawar.

The report said the inquiry into BRT project was authorised on July 20, 2018 on the order of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) dated Feb 5, 2018.

The PHC order had stated that “the delay, the contract-awarding process, feasibility and all the issues related to the project of Peshawar Sustainable Bus Rapid Transit Corridor Project (BRT) are all shady and shaky and as such the NAB authorities are directed to conduct proper investigation/inquiry and submit its report before the next date”.

However, the KP government had gotten relief from the Supreme Court. The apex court in its order on August 31, 2018, granted interim relief to the provincial government by suspending the operation of the PHC order and said “the matter is subjudice in the Supreme Court.”

The decision to revive cases against the PTI leadership came days after Tayyaba Gul, who secretly recorded the video of former NAB chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal told the PAC that former officials of the Prime Minister’s Office, including the PM’s close aide Azam Khan and Tahir A. Khan, ‘misused’ the video to pressurise the NAB chief to drop the cases.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2022