LAHORE: The PML-N led coalition government is paying its political opponents back in the same coin as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has launched a probe against a former accountability czar of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) administration for allegedly accumulating assets beyond his known sources of income and the misuse of authority, and summoned him for Oct 21.

The PML-N would blame former special assistant to the prime minister on accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar for instituting ‘false’ cases against its leadership with a ‘usual allegation of income beyond means’. Now former premier Imran Khan’s close aide, Mr Akbar, is facing similar charges.

In a call-up notice on Saturday, NAB said: “You are required to appear in person along with your response to the attached questionnaire, duly filed Asset Declaration Proforma supported with relevant documentary evidence before its official at NAB Lahore headquarters on Oct 21 at 11am positively.”

The NAB’s questionnaire focused on Akbar’s overall role in FIA’s sugar scam inquiry in which incumbent prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, his son Hamza and PML-N ally sugar baron Jehangir Tareen were nominated suspects. It also asked about his meetings with the FIA officials in this regard and ‘specific instruction’ he would give them.

Sends questionnaire to ex-Wapda head in Tarbela extension-IV ‘scam’

Akbar was also asked to explain his role in the oil companies and Rawalpindi Ring Road scams. “Do you or your family own any property falling or associated with the Rawalpindi Ring Road. Do you own or have occupied any land in Gujjar Khan and Chakri.”

NAB also asked him to explain his role in the appointment of Arif Raheem at Assets Recovery Unit, Kanwal Batool, ACE Rawalpindi, Shehzad Haider as director planning RDA and Maqbool Ahmad Dhawla, DG RDA. “Besides, what is your relationship with (property tycoon) Malik Riaz of Bahria Town and associated business concerns. Do you or your family own any property or commercial buildings in Bahria Enclave and in Blue Area Islamabad?”

The NAB sought a reply whether he had any shares or otherwise relationship with a private TV channel. Akbar has also been asked about his relationship with British-Pakistani businessman Nisar Afzal, former Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Rawalpindi director Arif Raheem, and former chairman of the defunct National Industrial Cooperative Finance Corporation, Chaudhry Abdul Majeed.

Reacting strongly to the NAB’s notice, Abkar tweeted: “This is a ridiculous notice of the toothless NAB at the behest of the imported government. This questionnaire is a joke. I will give a detailed reply to NAB. When money launderers will be the rulers then accountability full of revenge is launched (against their opponents).”

Shahzad Akbar is currently living in London. The federal cabinet recently placed his name on the no-fly list on NAB’s recommendation in a financial scam.

NAB seeks reply from ex-Wapda chairman

As former Water and Power Development Agency (Wapda) chairman retired Lt-Gen Muzammil Hussain had skipped the NAB hearing in a hydro power project ‘scam’, the anti-graft body sent him a questionnaire to reply.

The ex-general is accused of causing a loss to the national kitty to the tune of $753 million in the extension-IV hydro power project at Tarbela Dam.

In the notice to Mr Hussain, the NAB says there are allegations against him of misuse of authority and misappropriation of the government funds in the extension-IV hydro power project at Tarbela Dam, which caused a $753m loss to the national kitty.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2022