GILGIT: The National Accountability Bureau on Tuesday arrested former Gilgit-Baltistan finance secretary, currently working as joint secretary inter-provincial coordination committee, on corruption charges.

According to a press release issued by NAB sub-office here on Tuesday, Arif Ibrahim was arrested from Islamabad in pursuance of a non-bailable arrest warrant issued by GB accountability court.

The NAB has already filed reference against Arif Ibrahim, former GB secretary excise and taxation Mohammad Ali, former ETO Ghizer Intikhab-ul-Haq and contractor excise and taxation Mohammad Saleem and others for committing corruption and corrupt practices in procurement of arms and ammunition for GB excise and taxation department.

The arms were procured at exorbitant rates, but were found substandard, causing huge losses to the exchequer.

It was learnt that NAB was also preparing corruption cases against many officials of other GB departments.

Meanwhile, three grade 19 officials were promoted to grade 20.

According to a press release issued on Tuesday, the departmental promotion board had recommended promotion of Zafar Waqar Taj, Syed Akhtar Hussain and Mohammad Khadim Hussain (BS-19) of GB civil service to BS-20.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2019