LAHORE: Lahore Commissioner Abdullah Sumbal on Wednesday recorded his statement before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Lahore Parking Company (LPC) scam whose investigation reveals that most of 200 or so contracts had been awarded to the PML-N workers.

“The investigation into the matter has revealed that the LPC awarded more than 200 parking contracts, most of these to the PML-N office bearers/workers at the behest of elements in the Punjab government,” a source told Dawn. He said the NAB team would decide later whether to summon the contractors or not.

“A combined investigation team of NAB Lahore quizzed Mr Sumbal for more than an hour regarding award of some contracts (in the LPC scam). The commissioner was asked to explain about facilitation by some members of the Board of Directors (BoDs) in helping ‘certain people’ acquire the parking contracts,” the source said, adding that the commissioner replied all the queries of the team.

Mr Sumbal told Dawn that he appeared before the NAB team as “witness” in this case and shared the required information with the accountability watchdog. “I was asked about a certain contract during my brief stint as the chief executive of the company. I had pinpointed certain flaws in that contract and recommended its termination,” he said and added that he had shared the relevant information with NAB.

NAB is widening its scope in this scam. It has re-summoned former LPC chairman Hafiz Mian Nauman, a PML-N MPA, for May 29.

In a notice to him, NAB said: “During the investigation against the management/officers/officials of the LPC it has been revealed that you are in possession of information/evidence which relates to commission of the said offence. As you failed to appear before a combined investigation team of NAB Lahore on May 22, you are again summoned to appear before it (CIT) on May 29 at NAB Lahore (Thokar Niaz Baig) office along with documents related to the LPC and change of joint venture partner.”

In case of failing to comply with this notice, it further said, penal consequences may be initiated under section-2 of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999. Mr Nauman is said to be from the camp of Hamza Shahbaz.

NAB last month had arrested LPC Chief Executive Officer Taseer Ahmed, chief financial officer Usman Qayyum, general manager Faizan Wali and accounts manager Saad Rafique for illegally awarding contract to the NTG and Green Park, causing a loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer. NAB also arrested National Technology Group CEO Faisal Rao.

According to a source, Taseer Ahmed was close to a Lahore-based media group owner. He also served in that media group in a top position.

Faizan Wali, Saad Rafique and Faisal Rao were released on Tuesday after striking a plea bargain with NAB. The three suspects paid Rs80 million to clear the liability against them in the scam.

NAB is probing the affairs of 56 public-sector companies including the LPC formed by the Shahbaz Sharif administration in Punjab.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2018