ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal has ordered investigations into two cases involving the Sindh Food Department besides physical verification of wheat stock and its distribution from Ghotki district to Karachi region.

According to an official press release issued on Thursday, the NAB chief directed the director general, NAB, Sukkur to investigate both the cases and recover government funds misappropriated by some unscrupulous elements.

Both the cases had earlier been referred to the Anti-Corruption Establishment of Sindh for investigations.

NAB announced a few days ago that it would also investigate recent shortage and price hike of sugar and wheat in the country in which ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Jahangir Tareen and a family member of federal minister Khusro Bakhtiar were reportedly involved. However there was no mention in the press release as to what action the anti-graft watchdog has so far taken in this regard.

The NAB Sukkur has already recovered Rs10 billion out of Rs15bn allegedly misappropriated from wheat stocks after investigations.

The regional office of NAB has deposited Rs10bn in national exchequer after recovering directly or indirectly from corrupt elements involved in the wheat scam.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2020