LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar’s principal secretary Tahir Khursheed on Thursday skipped the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)’s hearing in an income beyond means investigation.

“Mr Khursheed neither appeared before the NAB investigators, nor informed through his counsel about the reason for skipping the hearing,” an official told Dawn. It was binding on any government official to respond to the NAB’s call-up notice, he added.

Special Assistance to the Punjab Chief Minister (SACM) on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan had earlier claimed that Mr Khursheed would appear before the NAB to defend himself.

In the call-up notice, the NAB Lahore had asked Mr Khursheed to submit the record of his inherited properties, besides complete details of the movable and immovable properties owned/acquired/purchased/sold/disposed of by him and his family members.

“Details of investment in shares/companies by you and your family members, bank accounts held by you and your family members, copies of assets declarations pro formas submitted by you to the department and copies of income tax returns and wealth statements submitted to the (Federal Bureau of Revenue) should be provided to the bureau,” Mr Khursheed was directed.

The NAB is also investigating some contracts awarded by Mr Khursheed, allegedly in violation of rules, when he was communications and works (C&W) secretary.

Khursheed was posted as principal secretary to the chief minister late last year by Mr Buzdar after serving in two other important departments – C&W and local government and community development.

The PML-N had levelled serious allegations against Mr Buzdar and Mr Khursheed of minting money through award of contracts of development works and postings and transfers of bureaucrats. It had alleged that the officer had been acting as a “front man” of Mr Buzdar.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2021