LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned PML-N President and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s son-in-law Imran Ali Yousaf on April 16 to answer questions regarding millions of rupees he allegedly received from the former chief executive officer of the Punjab Power Development Company (PPDC).

In its notice to Mr Yousaf, NAB said: “In the inquiry against Ikram Naveed, former PPDC chief executive officer, it was revealed that you are in possession of evidence which relates to the commission of the said offenses. Your are also required to record your statement with respect to amounts transferred by Ikram Naveed to you.”

According to sources, NAB is probing transfer of millions of rupees from the PPDC’s account to Mr Yousaf’s bank account. “The CM’s son-in-law is also accused of getting Mr Navid appointed as PPDC CEO who allegedly committed massive corruption,” a source said.

He said the NAB had also sought the record of the probe into the affairs of PPDC from the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE). He said the ACE had initiated action against Naveed for his involvement in corruption but gave a ‘clean chit’ to Yousaf.

“NAB has sought a complete record of the corruption case against the PPDC’s former CEO and the chief minister’s son-in-law,” he said.

ACE Director General retired Brig Muzzafar Ali Ranjha told Dawn that Ikram Navid had been accused of embezzling Rs450 million. “The ACE in 2016 carried out a thorough and professional probe against him. Naveed is behind the bars and his property worth over Rs1 billion has been attached/frozen,” the ACE chief said.

When asked about giving ‘clean chit’ by ACE investigation team to Mr Yousaf, Mr Ranjha said: “The probe in this case was carried out before his appointment as DG. NAB is free to carry out another probe into the matter... we don’t have any objection.”

About handing over the case record to NAB, he said: “It has been transferred to the accountability court and NAB may obtain it from there.” Mr Ranjha said NAB might not go for a plea bargain with Ikram Navid as his Rs1 bn assets had been unearthed (by ACE).

The ACE in its investigation had found that Mr Naveed had purchased 19 properties in his and his family members’ names. According to the ACE, the external auditors were unable to detect the fraud because the suspect submitted forged documents.

Sources said Ikram Naveed had purchased ‘some properties’ from Mr Yousaf from the PPDC’s account aimed at providing financial benefit to him.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2018