PESHAWAR, July 23: The NWFP chapter of the National Accountability Bureau has decided to shift its offices and detention cells from the MPAs hostel to another building before the general election, officials said.

The bureau has asked the provincial government to hand over possession of the defunct Peshawar Development Authority’s building situated in the posh Hayatabad township where it will move its offices along with the Civil Lines Police Station.

“The bureau will try to vacate the MPAs hostel before the general election and set up its offices somewhere else,” a NAB official told Dawn.

He said the management of the City Development and Municipal Department (CDMD) had agreed to hand over possession of block-3 of the PDA building to the bureau’s regional office. A meeting was held on Thursday to finalize a deal in this regard. The governor has already given his approval.

An official said the NAB had two choices; either to acquire permanent ownership of block-3 of the PDA building or pay rent for the apartments where offices and detention cells would be set up.

The final summary about the deal with the CDMD will be sent to the NAB headquarters in a couple of days for approval. At present, the five-storey building is lying vacant.

“NAB is evaluating the cost to purchase the building, provided the headquarters gives its approval,” says a senior NAB official.

The bureau occupied the MPAs hostel in December 1999, which caused strong resentment among the politicians and the social circles. Out of total four blocks, two were converted into the Civil Lines Police Station, where accused in corruption cases were detained during their physical custody with the NAB. Authorities also constructed 18 cells inside the building. The building renewal cost the government about Rs2.30 million.

About 70 politicians, former chief ministers, federal ministers and senior bureaucrats were interrogated in the said police station.