PESHAWAR: An investigation team of the National Accountability Bureau, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Monday acquired relevant records of the Bus Rapid Transit project from the Peshawar Development Authority as part of inquiry into different aspects of the multibillion dollars initiative.

A NAB official told Dawn that some officials of the combined investigation team visited the PDA offices adjoining the NAB regional headquarters in Hayatabad area and obtained the BRT project records.

A Peshawar High Court bench headed by Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth had ordered the NAB on July 17 to conduct an inquiry until Sept 5 into delay in the BRT project’s completion, cost escalation and awarding contract to a firm, which was allegedly blacklisted by the Punjab government.

On July 20, the NAB chairman had also ordered inquiry into the alleged corruption, non- completion of the project within stipulated time period and increase in estimated cost of the project.

A spokesperson for the PDA said the authority respected the high court’s order and cooperated with the NAB regarding the BRT project inquiry.

He said on Monday some officials of the NAB had visited the PDA building and had asked for some documents, which were provided to them.

CONVICTED: An accountability court here convicted a Haj tour operator for cheating public at large and sentenced him to two years rigorous imprisonment with fine of Rs8.8 million.

The sentence was handed down to Abdullah Jan on the complaint of intending pilgrims, who claimed that they had been deprived of their money.

A reference was filed against him by the NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The NAB KP had earlier recovered Rs17.5 million in the instant case which had been distributed among the affected people.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2018