ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has almost settled three scams in which people were deprived of millions of rupees, and recovered over Rs25 million from the accused persons.

The NAB Rawalpindi region distributed the recovered amount among the affected people at a ceremony held on Monday which was presided over by Director General Irfan Naeem Mangi.

According to NAB’s media wing, cheques for the recovered amount (Rs13.14 million) were distributed among the affected people at a ceremony on Monday.

After an inquiry against a private housing scheme, Tele Town, NAB found that its management had illegally collected Rs313million from the citizens without obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) for its layout plan from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and sold 2,330 files/plots during 2004–07.

About 200 affected people filed claims with NAB seeking the refund of their money. The management of the society submitted an application for a plea bargain and in the court agreed to pay back the amount.

So far, Rs25 million recovered from accused involved in the scams, NAB Rawalpindi says

Five affected people were handed over Rs700,000 on Monday while earlier NAB Rawalpindi had refunded Rs11.5 million to 50 affected people.

In a separate case of Mudarba (poly-Islamic mode of investment), Mohammad Uzair Shah, one of the accused, showed willingness to pay back the liability against him.

Mr Shah was arrested on Feb 5, 2018. He provided documents of his three properties in Attock city to NAB. With this recovery, 26 complainants received their claims from the total recovered amount of Rs11.3 million on Monday.

In another case, an inquiry against officers of the National Productivity Organisation (NPO), NAB Rawalpindi recovered Rs1 million from owners of a private firm called Imperial Associates. The amount was returned to the employees of the organisation. In the first phase, NAB Rawalpindi had handed over Rs37 million to the NPO.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Mangi said under the guidance of Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal the anti-graft watchdog was committed to working transparently, fairly, professionally and on merit for a corruption free Pakistan.

He said Pakistan was considered as a role model for Saarc countries in eradication of corruption due to NAB’s efforts. Pakistan is the only country whose Corruption Perception Index (CPI), according to a Transparency International report, has decreased from 175 to 116 points, he added.

“NAB strongly believes in the zero tolerance policy against corruption and hopes that joint efforts of all stakeholders can collaborate to check corruption and corrupt practices before happening.”

Mr Mangi said the practice to invest in unauthorised schemes was greed for more money that should be discouraged.

Published in Dawn, October 30th , 2018