LAHORE: An accountability court on Tuesday approved Rs490 million plea bargain of former chief financial officer of the Punjab Power Development Company (PPDC) Ikram Naveed and ordered his release in corruption scams of the company and Punjab Saaf Pani Company (PSPC) as well.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman had already allowed the plea bargain of Naveed after he became approver against Imran Ali Yousuf, son-in-law of former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Yousuf is currently hiding in London as the court has declared him proclaimed offender in the Saaf Pani and Power Development Company scams. The NAB told the court that Naveed had confessed to having paid around Rs130 million to Yousaf. It said Naveed had caused a Rs490 million loss to the national exchequer during his service in both companies.

The NAB said Mr Yousaf was instrumental in the appointment of Naveed in both the companies.

The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) had in 2016 initiated an inquiry against Mr Naveed on charges of corruption but gave clean chit to Mr Yousaf. Later, the NAB took over the inquiry and declared Yousaf guilty of committing corruption.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2018