8 April 2005	Friday	28 Safar 1426

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ISLAMABAD, April 7: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has asked the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to move a reference against Lt-Gen (retired) Tauqir Zia, the ex-chairman Pakistan Cricket Board, for taking home an official car at less than half of its original price in violation of government policy. In a statement here on Thursday, the PPP said the former PCB chief had himself framed policy for the transfer of official vehicles to board officials including himself in July 2003 to justify the transfer of the latest model vehicle.

“The policy notification issued by the former PCB chairman was in violation of the government procedure for disposing of the vehicles that are sold through an open auction,” the PPP said in its complaint to NAB.

Three other senior officials of the PCB dealing with treasury, logistics and finance also benefited from the policy, it said.

The PPP said the respondent “fall within the ambit of NAB Ordinance 1999 for the purpose of investigation trial and punishment” under section 10 of NAB ordinance for “causing a financial loss to the national exchequer by corruption and corrupt practice”.

In June 2000, the PCB purchased a Honda City car for Rs750,000. Three years later in 2003, Tauqir Zia paid only Rs339,940 and transferred the car (LXR-1983) in his name before leaving the office.

“Instead of disposing of the vehicle through an open auction as per government policy in public sector institutions, the vehicle price was shown to be depreciated by Rs410,160 and was transferred to Tauqir Zia,” it said.

“The respondents have shown wilful indulgence in corrupt practices under section 9 and are subject to punishment under section 10 of the ordinance,” the PPP complaint said.