PESHAWAR: National Accountability Bureau, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Friday arrested Tehsil Municipal Officer, Mardan, Mohammad Aaqil and contractor Sardar Afridi for their alleged involvement in illegal award of contracts for collection of two per cent immoveable property tax and thus causing big loss to the government exchequer.

A NAB statement said on Friday that KP NAB director general Shahzad Saleem had expedited the operation to bring the white-collar criminals in the clutches of law. During the course of inquiry, it was revealed that tehsil municipal administration, Mardan, awarded contracts in 2011-12 and 2012-13 to a contractor in sheer violation of model terms and conditions of the Local Council Board (LCB).

According to the LCB model terms and conditions, there will be 15 per cent yearly increase in the contract price, but contrary to this TMA extended illegal benefit to the contractor and awarded contract below the reserved price, the statement said.

It said that the contract awarding process was carried out by TMA, Mardan, and contractor Sardar Afridi planted his own persons in the bidding process in both years.

Published in Dawn January 31st, 2015

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