NAB authorises corruption probe against senior PPP leaders

E-Paper | June 14, 2026

ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau initiated corruption probes against PPP’s senior leader and former education minister of Sindh, Pir Mazharul Haq, for allegedly causing a loss of up to Rs6 billion to the national exchequer by illegally appointing 13,000 teachers in Education Department, Sindh.

This decision was taken at the Executive Board Meeting (EBM) of NAB on Wednesday, which was presided by NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry.

The accountability bureau also ordered inquiries against former federal minister Dr. Arbab Alamgir Khan and former MNA Asma Alamgir for alleged accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income, read a statement issued by NAB.

Inquiry was also authorised against former provincial minister for excise and taxation Balochistan, Muhammad Amin Umrani, alleging him of accumulating assets beyond known sources of income.

The executive board meeting also decided to authorise complaint verifications against Sindh Minister for Usher and Zakat Dost Muhammad and Sindh lawmaker Dr. Abdul Sattar Rajper.

Zardari's asset reference case postponed till Oct 28

An accountability court postponed hearing of an asset reference case filed against former president Asif Ali Zardari till October 28.

Zardari's lawyer, Farooq H. Naik, appeared before the NAC, Rawalpindi, for hearing of the case.

National Accountability Court Judge Khalid Ranjha, while hearing the reference filed against PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, postponed the proceedings due to absence of the witnesses of the case.

The judge ordered NAB to ensure presence of the witnesses on the next hearing.

Meanwhile, the accountability bureau is already carrying out corruption proceedings against PPP leader Qasim Zia in a fraud case pertaining to 100 million rupees — the accused is currently under arrest.

"The accused has been apprehended on allegations of cheating public at large, misappropriation, embezzlement of funds and criminal breach of trust and depriving general public of their hard earned money," said a spokesperson from NAB.

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Pakistan

Imtiaz Ali is a Karachi-based reporter for Dawn with over 25 years of experience in the field. His reporting portfolio encompasses crime, politics, and the provincial legislature, alongside coverage of the courts, government affairs, and the health sector.

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Asif

Oct 21, 2015 11:35pm

Very good news, keep up the good work.

Recommend 0

M.Saeed

Oct 21, 2015 11:44pm

NAB should start nab the ring-leader with iron grip if at all it wants to nail mega corruption. The ring-leader has already snarled on NAB's wisdom siting in his safe heaven abroad. It should be shown the real teeth in the NAB's fearless jaws.

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khara aur karwa such

Oct 21, 2015 11:46pm

Can NAB tell the people of Pakistan the following : - Total amount recovered so far by NAB from the corrupt since its formation - Amount awarded to NAB officials on amount recovered through plea bargains - Total amount spent on NAB set up till date, inclusive of all expenses This will tell us if NAB has rendered any useful service to the nation.

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Tareen

Oct 22, 2015 12:00am

good. But how about the Sharifs?

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Shahid Khan

Oct 22, 2015 12:02am

Very unlikely but lets hope that every corrupt person of PPP, PML-N and their allies is brought to justice.

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Progressing

Oct 22, 2015 12:11am

Start at the top NAB,start with the BIG fish

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Parvez

Oct 22, 2015 12:19am

Unless some high profile person is arrested and put behind bars after all his ill gotten wealth in his name and his family's name is confiscated.....such exercises will be viewed with scepticism.

Recommend 0

Oct 22, 2015 12:35am

Well if this legacy continues then the sitting ministers and office bearers must have a deterrence that they are free to do anything until they are in seat, but as they complete their terms there is NAB ready for accountability ! Even if they can't recover the stolen money the fear is enough to maintain a low profile . Who ever started NAB was a wise and visionary person.

Recommend 0

chiefchinballof chokka

Oct 22, 2015 12:35am

@M.Saeed Gee whiz, why don't you mail the info you have? you can do so anonymously! lol

Recommend 0

chiefchinballof chokka

Oct 22, 2015 12:36am

@Shahid Khan according to your other sites nothing will happen, so don't hope. lol

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Dr.Arshad

Oct 22, 2015 12:52am

Good step in the right direction. But accountability shouldn't be selective. Judiciary,Armed forces and civil society have got to create such an atmosphere where corrupt people will find it hard to make illegal money through politics. During Zia's era politics became a commercial enterprise and unfortunately this trend still persists.

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Ghaznavi

Oct 22, 2015 02:03am

Now we will hear the PPPP accusation of political victimization and the mantra that former President Zardari had spent 7 years is jail and nothing was proved against him!! In absence of a credible witness protection plan, these ministers will soon walk free as no one will dare to testify against them?

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I. A. Khan

Oct 22, 2015 02:16am

Arrest the convicted money launders and politicians who are already convicted for corruption in foreign and Pakistani courts.

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MJK

Oct 22, 2015 02:19am

"National Accountability Court Judge Khalid Ranjha, while hearing the reference filed against PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, postponed the proceedings due to absence of the witnesses of the case." - It is an open and shut case. Even if AAZ is found guilty, who is going to bring him back from Dubai ? He got away in time.

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Ejaz Khan

Oct 22, 2015 02:26am

The case against education minister to hire 13,000 teacher is joke. If I have given a chance to become education minster, I ll hire 50,000 teachers and open 10,000 school. Who has the power to decide that the providing employment opportunities to the general public is crime. Please provide proof that he has taken money to hire the teachers

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Imran A.

Oct 22, 2015 02:33am

Everyone should be brought to justice including Justice Chaudhry Iftikhar. Let's protect our justice system. Let there be provision in the law to give judges more power than the government. No one should be above the law. If a judge takes a bribe, then the law should incriminate him/her with no possible bail.

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Kamran

Oct 22, 2015 02:38am

@KZ Gen Musharaf created NAB

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Bohemian62

Oct 22, 2015 02:44am

When will PML turn come. Nawaz, Shahbaz, Ishaq Dar, Chaudhary Shujaat....

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Syed Ahmed, Canada

Oct 22, 2015 03:04am

@khara aur karwa such: I also asked a similar question sometimes in the past. If I remember correctly NAB accepted plea bargain on recovery of 2.2 billion of rupees out of 8.0 billion stolen by Lt Gen (R) Zahid Ali Akbar, retired, former Chairman WAPDA and PCB. Under the plea bargain clause of the NAB law, an accused person is liable to pay 15 percent additional fine of the total embezzled money. In addition to 15 percent fine, in the case of a government employee, he immediately loses his job forever and, if he is a non-government person or politician, he is barred from contesting elections for the next 10 years. This rule is ambiguous. The person should be made to pay 85% of the stolen money and only retain 15%. Plus loose all his pension and other benefits obtained during the government service.

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Sleepless in Sahiwal

Oct 22, 2015 03:27am

@khara aur karwa such You can file for an RTI petition? NAB does not take action based on newspaper comments

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Hashim

Oct 22, 2015 04:19am

And now we will hear the usual PPP mantra of political victimisation and democracy being in danger. The last PPP tenure was, on record, the most corrupt government ever in the country's history. The close aides of the former president have been apprehended and the former president himself has made an early escape out of the country. I hope they NAB can arrest the culprits, make examples of them, and bring back the looted money that has been sucked out of the people.

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Naveed

Oct 22, 2015 05:00am

Really, I guess they don't want to be deprived of plea bargain option and collect their cut before the army can get to it.

Recommend 0

Gaffer

Oct 22, 2015 05:36am

Army keep it up do not take dictation like me

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AntiCorruption

Oct 22, 2015 05:49am

NAB hasn't done anything worthwhile so far that can be seen as deterrence by the politicians and other officials. NAB needs to give exemplary punishments to big fish. Plea bargain practice only encourages corruption.

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Must read this..

Oct 22, 2015 05:51am

Step in the right direction.People are following all news report .Please keep events updated.

Recommend 0

Sadaat

Oct 22, 2015 05:53am

Loot kasoot. .and the poors still dance in the streets to the tunes of these politicians..

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s.khan

Oct 22, 2015 06:08am

MCB , NANDIPUR, METRO , and many such mega corruption cases that are to be investigated . i think the pendora is about to open soon.

Recommend 0

Haider

Oct 22, 2015 06:23am

Many more need NAB evaluation including Sindh Assembly PPP men and gang of Qaim Ali shah who have the control of Sindh for many decades.

Recommend 0

Shabbir Kazmi

Oct 22, 2015 09:11am

The only regret is accountability is selective, only against PPP and MQM, are the PML-N members angles and not involved in any corruption? When will NAB start against investigation against PML-N top leadership?

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Mujahid HUSSAIN.

Oct 22, 2015 09:29am

@Sadaat well said.....ha...ha..ha.

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innocent

Oct 22, 2015 05:15pm

@Sleepless in Sahiwal What is RTI petition?

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innocent

Oct 22, 2015 05:31pm

@Sadaat Don't you know why the poor dance to the tune of these politicians? The poor wretched souls are paid a couple of hundred Rupees and free lunch/dinner to sweat it out for many hours.

Recommend 0

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