ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency has initiated the process to get the names of 16 top executives of National Bank of Pakistan placed on the Exit Control List for their alleged involvement in a Rs2 billion scam, including unlawful distribution among themselves of huge sums from the Staff Welfare Fund in the name of ‘achievement award’.

In a letter to the director, economic crimes wing of FIA, Islamabad, FIA’s Karachi director pointed out that the case had already been taken up by the Supreme Court. He said that keeping in view the sensitivity of the case, it may be taken up with the ministry of interior to place the names of the NBP executives on the ECL in order to prevent them from leaving the country.

Request for an early action has been made in the letter, a copy of which is available with Dawn.

Moazzam Jah, the FIA director, wrote the letter after he received a communication from the additional director, commercial banks circle, claiming that some NBP executives were trying to flee the country to avoid proceedings already initiated by the court.

The FIA wants the names of the following NBP officials placed on the ECL: former president Syed Ali Raza, Dr Mirza Abrar Baig, Shahid Anwar Khan, Amer Siddiquie, Dr Asif Khan Brohi, Ziaullah Khan, Muhammad Nusrat Vohra, Ekhlaq Ahmed, Masood Karim Sheikh, Imam Baksh Baloch, Nadeem Anwar Ilyas, Tahir Yaqoob, Mrs Khursheed Maqsood Ali, Tajammal H. Bokharee, Amir Sattar and Mohibur Rehman Khan.

“The top management of NBP with mala fide intention and ulterior motives and by abusing their powers violated the premise of policy for achievement awards from the Staff Welfare Fund through which undue benefits were given to favourites against the rules,” are the legal comments made by the FIA in its inquiry report. The inquiry report submitted to the Supreme Court mentions that a memo had been initiated by the Group Chief (HRM & AG) seeking to devise a policy so that the top management of the bank could benefit from the redundant scheme.