QUETTA: Former secretary finance Balochistan Mushtaq Ahmed Raisani during initial interrogation disclosed the names of political facilitators in connection with a mega-corruption case in the province, sources in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) told DawnNews on Sunday, adding that a political figure was likely to be arrested in the aftermath of the revelations.

Senior NAB officials have been probing Raisani's involvement in corruption of over Rs 1 billion. The former finance secretary was picked up from his residence by NAB officials on Friday and Rs730 million was recovered from his home.

NAB sources revealed that five to six well-placed officers in the finance department, among others, were among those likely to be arrested soon but provided no details about names of the officers. They also claimed that the accused secretary had made revelations with regards to an ongoing commissions and kickbacks in government departments.

Following the interrogation, NAB has taken all records of development projects from the finance and local government departments, as well as certain banks, into its custody.

"Arrests are likely to be made but I cannot share details at this point in time", Director General NAB Balochistan, Tariq Mehmood Malik told DawnNews in an interview. He revealed that currently 150 cases of corruption were being investigated in Balochistan worth billions of rupees.

When asked about investigation against legislators, he said, "investigation is underway against some former and some serving provincial ministers".

Poor governance and transparency in Balochistan remain a pressing issue. Former Balochistan chief minister Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch repeatedly spoke about improvement in governance as CM but the accused, Raisani, remained secretary finance during his tenure.

"I demand ruthless accountability and offer myself for accountability", Baloch said after the mega-corruption scandal came to light.

The abrupt arrest of a serving Grade 21 officer has set off alarm bells in bureaucratic circles. On Sunday, a large number of officers including provincial secretaries, additional secretaries, deputy secretaries and section officers from Balochistan put their heads together in order to stop what they termed 'political transfers and postings in government departments'.

Some of the officers expressed reservations and apprehensions with regard to the arrest of Mushtaq Ahmed Raisani, a senior officer who declined to be named owing to the sensitivity of the matter told DawnNews.