ISLAMABAD: After 16 years of investigation, the National Accountability Bureau wound up on Wednesday alleged corruption cases against Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar.

“Due to lack of substantial evidences, a 16-year-old inquiry against Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar has been closed,” NAB’s spokesman said after a meeting of the bureau’s Executive Board.

Mr Mukhtar is among four federal ministers whose names are on the list of beneficiaries of the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance. The others are Rehman Malik, Dr Farooq Sattar and Babar Ghauri.

The defence minister was the only member of the federal cabinet who had denied having benefited from the NRO.

Mr Mukhtar was accused of abusing his official position of the federal minister for commerce in 1994-95 and allocating export textile quota to firms which were found to be either fake or non-existent.

In another reference Mr Mukhtar was accused of misusing his position by selling rice at a lower price in connivance with his co-accused and causing a loss of about 67.8 million to national exchequer.

The NAB is also trying to wind up a case against Interior Minister Rehman Malik, sources said.

Meanwhile, NAB chairman Justice (retd) Syed Deedear Hussain Shah has stressed the need for deciding cases on merit and taking steps against those found guilty of corruption, irrespective of their political affiliation and status.