LAHORE: Despite spending some six months to determine the role of Punjab Sports and Education Minister Rana Mashhood in alleged corruption in two cases, the National Accountability Bureau, Lahore, is still seeking more time to conclude probe.

The inordinate delay is giving rise to speculations about a ‘possible deal’ between the NAB and the PML-N minister.

NAB spokesman Nawazish Ali Asim did not give any reason why NAB was not moving ahead in the investigation launched by it into a video clip showing Rana Mashhood allegedly receiving money for his party (PML-N) fund from fraudster Asim Malik, owner of a visa consultancy firm, at his house a few years ago and alleged corruption in the Punjab Youth Festival and entries of ‘fake record’ in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The NAB spokesman also did not deny unconfirmed reports of a ‘possible deal’ between the minister and the NAB, indicating that something fishy is being cooked. “The NAB has got the forensic report of the video talk of the minister and it is providing some proof against the minister,” a source in NAB told Dawn. Earlier, the Federal Investigation Agency had cleared the minister in the video scandal. However, in the case of Punjab Youth Festival 2014, the NAB does not seem to be in hurry in collecting evidence regarding the whole affair.

“Why NAB is taking too much time to conclude the inquiry against Rana Mashhood. It is giving a clear impression that NAB has been either under immense pressure from the federal and provincial governments or has some other issues in this case,” former NAB director retired Brig Farooq Hameed said while talking to Dawn. He said it was a high profile inquiry and should have been concluded on a priority basis.

Interestingly, the NAB had declared six months ago that it would summon Rana Mashhood but it did not.

Mr Mashhood on the other hand had asked NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry to take action against the bureau’s Lahore Director General, Syed Burhan Ali, for “violation of its code of conduct”. In a letter to the NAB chairman, Rana Mashhood said: “Syed Burhan Ali has transgressed his authority and misused the name of NAB in clear-cut violation of the NAB code of conduct as he had no authority to comment on any matter publicly which is under inquiry or investigation as per the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.”

He demanded the NAB chief to take action against Burhan Ali for misusing his authority and NAB should also apologise for his act within 15 days otherwise he had the right to initiate legal action against the official.

However, neither the NAB apologised from Mr Mashhood nor the latter initiated any legal action against NAB or its DG.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2016