ISLAMABAD: A joint investigation team of the National Accountability Bureau and Pakistan Rangers looking into allegations of corruption and irregularities in the energy sector has expanded its probe to at least five companies and institutions and asked the State Bank of Pakistan and local and foreign banks and financial institutions to provide details of bank accounts of 15 people in Karachi.

According to sources, the widening of the probe was ordered after the arrest of high-profile people, including former minister for petroleum Dr Asim Hussain, former managing director of Sui Southern Gas Company Zohair Siddique, the company’s former deputy managing director Shoaib Warsi and Kamran Ihsan Nagi.

In a fresh letter, NAB has asked the SBP to issue orders to all financial institutions and foreign banks operating in Sindh to provide details of bank accounts of Tajamal Hussain, Rubina Hussain, Sabina Khalid, Arif Hussain, Ahison Ahmed, Afzal Ahmed, Noor Fatima, Khalid Bin Shaheen, Maryam Khalid, Mirza Khalid, Miral Khalid, Ziyad Arif, Danyal Arif, Aijaz Fatima and Ammad Hussain.

The “search of banks accounts” was ordered to expand the “inquiry against Dr Asim, managements of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), K-Electric (KE) and others”.

The SBP has been asked to direct all domestic and foreign banks and financial institutions to furnish photocopies of account opening forms even if accounts had been closed, authorisation or mandate to any other individual to operate these accounts and copies of specimen signature cards.

They have also been directed to provide personal details of holders of the accounts like photocopies of their national identity cards, computerised national identity cards or other identification details along with statement of accounts from the date of opening.

“In addition to the above, please obtain information of any other accounts, deposits or lockers maintained by the listed individuals, at present or in the past (since 1985),” the NAB’s letter said.

The central bank has also been asked to “obtain (from entire banking industry) details of any banking facility allowed to these 15 individuals or their business concern with details of security offered. In case any banking facility has been granted to a third person / firm against the deposit or guarantee of the above individuals the details of such facilities may also be required to be reported”.

The sources said some interesting clues had been found after the Rangers collected details of accounts of Dr Asim Hussain through the central bank.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2015

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