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Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan resigned from his post on Tuesday in wake of the corruption reference filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for allegedly causing delays in the Nandipur Power Project.
According to the reference filed in the Accountability Court, the bureau holds Babar Awan — who was the federal law minister in the PPP government — responsible for delaying the power project while in office.
PPP's Raja Pervez Ashraf, who was the federal minister for water and power at the time, has also been named in the NAB reference.
Tweeting about his resignation, Awan said that he prefers to resign rather than staying put in his official position. He added that he would fight the case in the court of law to prove his innocence.
"Just reached PM House to tender my resignation from Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. Rule of Law begins with me. Thank you, Insafians for standing by me always. I will never let you down," he tweeted.
The PTI leader forwarded his resignation to Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The NAB has claimed that the Ministry of Water and Power and the Ministry of Law and Justice were responsible for the delay in the completion of the Nandipur power project and for its eventual cost escalation.
The law ministry had raised objections to the agreement signed by the power ministry from 2008 to 2011 and the issue was resolved after the ministers for the two ministries were removed.
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Comments (58) Closed
Sep 04, 2018 08:09pm
Excellent Mr. Awan charity begain at home......
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Sep 04, 2018 08:12pm
Hats off for setting unprecedented example in Naya Pakistan. HE Dr Babar Awan, Advisor to PM Imran Khan straight away tendered his resignation simply because NAB has initiated a corruption enquiry against him. It reminds me, if not annoying, that corruption charges were framed against Nawaz Sharif, PM as well and Imran had been shouting time and again that simple decency demands that Nawaz should quit as it happens in developed Western countries but Nawaz never ever cared till he was disqualified for whole of his life. Imran has voiced time and again during his election campaign that he will try to create corruption free Pakistan to be renamed and remembered as Naya Pakistan. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi
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Sep 04, 2018 08:13pm
Well done! This is exactly how it should be rather than shouting “mujhay kyun nikala” even after a Court convicts you
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Sep 04, 2018 08:19pm
Aleem Khan has a case in NAB, but is senior minister on the Punjab cabinet. Double standards.
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Sep 04, 2018 08:23pm
Minister for power and water may have had an impact on the project but to accuse the law ministry is rather irrational and illogical. Obviously we are not privy to the knitty gritty of the project but just because law minister had raise any legitimate queries of the nature of the agreement does render him responsible for its delay. This tactic and modus operandi if the NAB does not provide any confidence to the public for its ability to prosecute those responsible for real corruption and embezzlement. Sad.
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Sep 04, 2018 08:28pm
Please forgive him his sins committed during the past. That is gone and done with. The new Pakistan needs his services.
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Sep 04, 2018 08:34pm
Good decision. Hope pmln and ppp party learn lesson from pti
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Sep 04, 2018 08:35pm
What a useless reference from NAB.
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Sep 04, 2018 08:39pm
Now is the time to get down to the scams. Every stone unturned exposes massive corruption that was eating at the fabric of the country. It was becoming part of the psyche, when growing up. It has been halted in time, now exposing them has become the psyche. The tsunami of justice is washing the old crooked cockroaches out of the system. The nation too must stand up and help IK and PTI clean up.
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Sep 04, 2018 08:41pm
After the PTI members called players now we have another word for them
"Insafians".
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Sep 04, 2018 08:41pm
Good decision by Babar Awan. PTI sets an example which others should follow. This is unlike the Nawaz government during which the ministers like Dar and Saad as well as the CM Punjab Shahbaz refused to resign even when NAB had active references against them. A new moral standard has now been established in politics by the new PTI government
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Sep 04, 2018 08:42pm
I hope Aleem Khan will do the same and resign from Punjab government.
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Sep 04, 2018 08:46pm
Now, this is called Naya Pakistan, never seen in Pakistan. He resigned!! just like how it happens in the Western Democracies!
If it was "Old" Pakistan, you would have dragged the 'convicted' to Jail and they would have not let go of the 'Seat'!
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Sep 04, 2018 08:46pm
Honorable step taken. He is not like Nawaz and Maryam Shrief constantly fighting the system.
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Sep 04, 2018 08:57pm
Did a right thing instead of sticking to his position. Good luck B. Awan
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Sep 04, 2018 09:09pm
Good decision, hopefully change is coming
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Sep 04, 2018 09:17pm
Whether guilty or not, but I appreciate resignation till u clear ur name
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Sep 04, 2018 09:21pm
Very good!
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Sep 04, 2018 09:24pm
Nice Precedent.
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Sep 04, 2018 09:26pm
Very good. As they say, 'Innocent until proven guilty'. They also say, 'You do the crime, you do the time'. Lets hope justice is done and hopefully soon. This nation has suffered enough for a long time. Only honest people needed in politics now.
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Sep 04, 2018 09:26pm
Good riddance, jail him too.
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Sep 04, 2018 09:32pm
PTI practicing what they preach!
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Sep 04, 2018 09:36pm
He set up a good example by resigning. Clear your name first, and then hold a position of responsibility.
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Sep 04, 2018 09:41pm
Is this in Pakistan... wow,
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Sep 04, 2018 09:41pm
This is called rules of law
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Sep 04, 2018 09:45pm
Excellent! We do not want anybody who has a question mark on his integrity or competence close to the Prime Minister.
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Sep 04, 2018 09:56pm
Great gesture!
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Sep 04, 2018 10:05pm
The curse of zardari
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Sep 04, 2018 10:12pm
Another good example set by Imrans' principle that no one above the law. Thank you IK and thank you Mr. Babar awan presenting yourself for an accountability. If you are innocent you will get your post back otherwise we would love to see you in jail like any other criminal.
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Sep 04, 2018 10:13pm
A first in Pakistan. Awan has my vote forever.
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Sep 04, 2018 10:13pm
Good gesture. This is change
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Sep 04, 2018 10:16pm
Baber Awan did the right thing by tendering his resignation. He needs to clear his name before holding any official and political position. It is good for him, PTI, and the country.
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Sep 04, 2018 10:18pm
Get the crooks out of government. ""Rule of law begins with me."" What a lunatic!
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Sep 04, 2018 10:27pm
Honest and straightforward. Did not want the allegation's bleed through to tarnish PTI.
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Sep 04, 2018 10:29pm
Nice to see people resigning as opposed to being pushed out...
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Sep 04, 2018 10:58pm
Right move by an honourable man! Respects for Babar Awan Sahib.
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Sep 04, 2018 11:06pm
Naya Pakistan is here
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Sep 04, 2018 11:17pm
A senior party member stands accused of corrupt activity.
PMLN: blame the "establishment", call it an international conspiracy, abuse the judiciary, invent fake illnesses, and let the issue drag the entire nation down for two full years.
PTI: resign immediately.
Hasan
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Sep 04, 2018 11:38pm
Surely he will get away with the lawt, but some day he will be caught and that too most surely.
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Sep 04, 2018 11:39pm
Those who worked with PPP leaders will have a nightmare sooner or later. It’s just a curse of corruption that will stick with them for the entire life. From banks, Bahria Town, sugar mills, actresses, police and builders etc all will be trapped one by one
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Sep 04, 2018 11:39pm
A good step by Babar Awan, why embarrass IK & yourself. Go to the court and explain.
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Sep 04, 2018 11:47pm
Shameless man.
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Sep 04, 2018 11:50pm
Good precedent set.
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Sep 05, 2018 12:09am
Atleast he resigned. That's a new change.
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Sep 05, 2018 12:58am
The right thing to do..
Well done Mr Awan for setting a good precedent.
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Sep 05, 2018 01:08am
The correct decision by a turncoat!
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Sep 05, 2018 01:42am
It's a good action. That's what they do in other countries, including here in USA. PMLn or PPP never did it. Rather, "Muje kion nikala."
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Sep 05, 2018 01:52am
Opportunist that he is, awan joined pti just before the elections thinking he may get off the hook if pti wins. But that was not to be. Good riddance.
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Sep 05, 2018 02:24am
Two reasons: Either he accepted to himself that he is not 100% innocent. Or he was too ready for an opportunity to jump forward and hand in his resignation. I can't think of a third reason.
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Sep 05, 2018 03:03am
Good move by Babaer Awan. He will be welcomed back by PTI if he can rightly clear himself of allegations.
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Sep 05, 2018 03:34am
Well done Babar Awan that should be the way. You showed the courage and set a good example for others.
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Sep 05, 2018 04:43am
This is the right way to resign. It requires lot of moral courage. In Pakistan such instances are rare. Though legally a person is innocent till declared responsible by the court for the alleged wrong doing, but PTI's Mr. Babar has set an example for others in high positions. I appreciate such things now happening in Pakistan under the new leadership of PM Imran Khan.
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Sep 05, 2018 05:10am
Now all corrupt are in PTI
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Sep 05, 2018 05:50am
Only honorable thing one can do is resign. Hope he comes back when cleared.
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Sep 05, 2018 05:55am
One of the most corrupt politicians.
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Sep 05, 2018 06:17am
Bravo!! You will be back.
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Sep 05, 2018 06:32am
This is first one many more to follow. All these considered to be stalwartss, being in part of previous governments, have many Skelton’s hidden in the cupboard. This is good news that The incumbent understood the overall mood of the people and resigned. In return, the PTI in the process has been spared from facing unnecessary criticism & embarrassment. It is very sad & unfortunate that as a nation we have had such sordid past governments & the new government instead of moving on with its program of giving good governess, is bogged down with such past mega cases of corruption. Such cases which are numerous & with new one surfacing every passing day are not to be settled/sorted out sooner but will drag on for years together. Therefore, it is imperative the attention of present government must remain focused on present plate full of existing financial & other governess issues, requiring resolution. The people at large are anxiously waiting for the social uplift program promised by the PM
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Sep 05, 2018 08:09am
Leading the way with an example, Good decision.
Change is here.
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