ISLAMABAD: The Natio­nal Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday approved four investigations and six inquiries against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government’s ambitious Billion Tree Tsunami (BTT) project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The decision was taken at the NAB Executive Board Meeting (EBM) presided over by chairman Javed Iqbal.

“The EBM authorised conducting four separate investigations and six inquiries in Billion Tree Tsunami Project, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said an official press release.

Dawn learnt that NAB was holding four investigations into the BTT project after it got some evidence.

Investigation is the third stage during the course of a NAB probe — first is complaint verification, second is inquiry, third is investigation and fourth is preparation and filing of a reference.

A source said NAB was investigating allegations about misuse of authority, embezzlement of funds, lack of survival of plants, etc.

The EBM also approved filing of a corruption reference against Asim Murtaza Khan, former director and CEO of Pakistan Petroleum Limited, and others. He had allegedly awarded oil and gas contracts to M/s Moranoftodo, causing heavy losses to the exchequer.

An investigation was also approved against the management of Almsa Model Town and Professor Model Town and others, against officials and others of the Text Book Board, KP, Mirza Khan Soherani and officials of the education and literacy department, Sindh.

The EBM approved 12 inquiries, including six against the KP’s BTT project, against the management of some sugar mills, Abdul Raheem Khan, Zahoor Ahmed, Azmat Ali Shah, Hamza Khan and Arashur Rehman; additional controller of Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan and others; officials of Bannu Sugar Mills Ltd, archaeology department, KP, and MPAs Sardar Khan Chandio and Burhan Khan Chandio.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2020