November 20, 2007	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 09, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has filed a reference with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, Pakistan Muslim League president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, secretary-general Mushahid Hussain and former information minister Mohammad Ali Durrani.

The reference filed by Chaudhry Mohammad Aslam advocate says in connection with a campaign allegedly launched against former prime minister Benazir Bhutto the respondents got a “highly objectionable, derogatory, insulting, damaging and baseless proclamation” published in a number of dailies at the expense of the government, which amounts to misuse of power, misappropriation of funds and an illegal act.

“The respondents have shown wilful indulgence in misusing their power and corrupt practices under Section 9 of the NAB Ordinance. They are liable for the punishment under Section 10 of the NAB Ordinance 1999.”

Meanwhile, PPP information secretary Sherry Rehman, in a statement, denounced a “blatant looting spree by officials of the Oil and Gas Development Corporation” through a series of “deliberate delays” in the purchase of seismic drilling equipment during the past five years, while the country wasted millions of rupees in hiring rig equipment that the OGDC companies were originally meant to purchase.

She said press reports about the “absolute leeway granted to the OGDC” stood for the fact that corruption was far more deep-rooted in the ranks of the government’s offices than perceived.

“This is another blot on Gen Musharraf’s tenure, and will only add to the growing restlessness in the country as people are sick of the regime’s failure to meet their needs and its lust to prolong its rule.” She called for an investigation into the role of the officials involved in the scandal.