LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has launched a probe into a sugar scam in Punjab.

NAB Lahore Director General Amjad Majeed Aulakh authorised an inquiry against sugar broker Sheikh Raashid who made off with billions of rupees in investments from traders and sugar stockists across Punjab.

“A high-level investigation team has been constituted to probe the multi-billion scam that has left many investors of Punjab and several cities of Sindh, in distress,” the NAB said on Wednesday. According to the NAB, initial raids uncover a web of deceit by revealing warehouses and shops in Sadiqabad, being used to stock misappropriated commodities by accused Sheikh Raashid and his accomplices.

The NAB has frozen all properties and stocked commodities owned by the suspects and appointed the Sadiqabad assistant commissioner as ‘Receiver’ for the frozen assets. Other suspects are Kashif Ali and Faisal Ali. The NAB said that Chairman retired Gen Nazir Ahmed had issued clear instructions for employing priority to the cases pertaining to general public investments to ensure justice was served.

The NAB Lahore has urged all affected investors of the sugar scam to cooperate with the ongoing investigations.

“However, all those affectees who have not contacted the bureau, till date, are encouraged to submit their claims to NAB Lahore without any delay,” it said.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2024