LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau, Lahore, has arrested a senior officer of the Punjab government in the Saaf Pani Company scam.

According to NAB, Deputy Secretary Housing Khalid Nadeem Bukhari was arrested on Wednesday on charges of embezzling millions of rupees. “Mr Bukhari in connivance with other co-accused got 116 water filtration plants installed in Bahawalpur region on 40 per cent exorbitant rates than the actual cost thus causing a loss worth millions of rupees to the national kitty,” it said.

The NAB last month had arrested four suspects who were involved in the scam. The bureau said investigation during their remand revealed mala fide intention of Khalid Nadeem Bukhari being the representative from the housing ministry who intentionally got approved the contracts and receipts on forged and fabricated documents. “After obtaining substantial evidence against Bukhari NAB arrested him and got his 12-day physical remand from an accountability court,” it said.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2018