NAB's top brass approves fresh batch of inquiries, references

E-Paper | April 26, 2026

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB)'s executive board on Thursday approved the launch of two fresh inquiries and three references, the accountability watchdog said.

According to a press release, the board, chaired by NAB Chairman Javed Iqbal, approved a probe against Ghulam Mohammad, former secretary of the Balochistan communication and works department, and other officials and contractors. The NAB's top brass also approved an investigation against Asghar Shaikh, former director general of the Larkana Development Authority and others.

Read: 'NAB will not arrest PPP leaders at the whim of a federal minister'

The accountability watchdog also decided to file a reference against Haji Gulbar Khan, former health minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, Zamurd Khan, former conservator Gilgit forest department, Haji Naseeb Khan, Abdul Samad, Mohammad Qasim and others. They are accused of abusing their powers and illegally issuing passes to seven contractors for cutting and transporting trees, causing a loss of almost Rs45.73 million rupees to the national exchequer.

In addition, NAB will file a corruption reference against Mehtab Ahmed Khan, former adviser to the prime minister on aviation, Irfan Illahi, former secretary of aviation division, Musharraf Rasool, former chairman of Pakistan International Airlines, Mohammad Ali Taba and others for abusing their powers and appointing Rasool as head of the national flag carrier airline, causing heavy losses to the treasury. The appointment has already been declared illegal.

Also read: PM Khan slams NAB for 'disgraceful act' of arresting accomplished archaeologist

NAB also decided to file a reference against Kamran Ali Qureshi, former chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Asad Munir, former member estate CDA, Khalid Mahmood, former director estate CDA, and others for allegedly abusing their powers to restore a plot in F11, Islamabad while violating rules and regulations.

The executive board also allowed to investigate Speaker Sindh Assembly Agha Siraj Durrani, Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar, former federal minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi and Nawab Mohammad Yousuf Talpur for suspected money transfers, along with already continuing investigations.

The accountability watchdog, however, decided to close inquiry against former Sindh minister for Zakat and Ushr Dost Mohammad Sammon and others over lack for evidence.

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Zeeshan

Mar 14, 2019 05:51pm

It is not a surprise to see no words of appreciation from the people for 'Bureau of Political Engineering'.

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Adnan Bashir

Mar 14, 2019 06:07pm

We ,the nation, need recovery ,not this type of tactics ,to reduce the trade deficit & pay for foreign loans.

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Sayyid

Mar 14, 2019 06:34pm

Lack of evidence?

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Justicefirst

Mar 14, 2019 08:43pm

Before opening of new cases,NAB must also close some old cases too so that the nation must know their real performance.It is estimated that there have been a corruption of at least US$ 100 Billion during last 10 years in government related accounts but so far result negligible.It seem that the NAB team has not been selected on merit and here too nepotism has prevailed.

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Reality

Mar 14, 2019 10:14pm

So who was paid off to close the cases for lack of evidence?

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Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

Mar 14, 2019 11:00pm

Too slow and NAB must be punished for not delivering despite the fact that it has brigade of officers in all provices in addition to Head Office in Islamabad but yet hardly it could catch many big fish. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

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Khan

Mar 15, 2019 12:00am

NAB should investigate ex Punjab Minister of Revenue Gul Hameed Khan Rokhri of Mianwali for allegedly abusing their powers to grab Government land,and possessing in Billions Rupees beyond his source of income,Currently Nazim of Mianwali PML (N) getting bribes from each department on regularly basis.

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M. Afzal Riaz, MD

Mar 15, 2019 01:51am

NAB is too slow to act . All cases should be decided in one year.

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only for pakistan

Mar 15, 2019 03:31am

its a good step. but what about the pending cases? NAB goes to SC and says 'look up google' ! bring an end to the cases of big looters of pakistan and then go after the small fish. you'd have no problems get them booked !

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Asad

Mar 15, 2019 07:17am

NAB: Please start from the head of the snakes....Zardari crime family, Sharif crime family and then work your way down these crime organizations. Don't dilute your efforts ... go after the big fish, get the looted money back into the country.

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