LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has launched investigation against more politicians, including former Evacuee Trust Property Board chairman Siddiqul Farooq, former federal minister Manzoor Wattoo and MNA-elect Azhar Qayyum Nahra, on different charges.

Two former MNAs – Nasir Iqbal Bosal of Mandi Bahuddin and Chaudhry Riazul Haq of Okara – and a former PML-N MPA Saiful Maluk have come under the NAB scanner for possessing illegal assets.

Mr Nahra has been accused of having assets beyond his known sources of income. He is summoned by the NAB for Aug 10.

The NAB has initiated another investigation against former railways minister and PML-N stalwart Saad Rafique in the purchase of 55 locomotives allegedly at exorbitant rate, leasing out railways land illegally and spending hefty amount on renovation of different railway stations. Rafique is already facing probe into the land issue related to the Paragon Housing Society.

NAB Chairman retired justice Javed Iqbal was briefed about these investigations at a meeting at the bureau’s Lahore office here on Wednesday. Bureau’s Lahore Director General Shahzad Saleem told the chairman about the progress in probe in other cases.

“The bureau has initiated probe against Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo for alleged embezzlement during his tenure as the federal minister in the PPP regime (2008-13). Siddiqul Farooq has allegedly leased a piece of land in Lahore illegally,” an official told Dawn.

The chairman was also briefed on investigation against senior Punjab police officials including former Lahore police chief Amin Wains and former DIG Dr Haider Ashraf for acquiring illegal assets beyond their known sources of income. It is also probing against Secretary of Primary and Secondary Health Ali Jan for accumulating illegal assets and of alleged misappropriation in different health projects, against chief engineer of the Lahore Development Authority Israr Saeed for alleged financial embezzlement in its development projects, against Punjab Public Service Commission for alleged illegal appointments, against officials of Municipal Corporation of Gujranwala for illegal sale of govt-controlled 247 kanal land, against University of Agriculture Faisalabad for alleged illegal appointments, against LDA officials for financial embezzlement in expansion of Ferozpur Road up to Multan Road.

Justice Iqbal directed the officials concerned for completing investigation in every case within 10 months. He said all investigators should work independently and on merit. He said each and every complaint filed in NAB would be handled properly.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2018