PESHAWAR, July 13: The National Accountability Bureau, NWFP, arrested on Saturday three persons from Attock in connection with the Ghazi Barotha Hydle Power Project land acquisition scam.

The accused — Islam Badshah, Mohammad Daud and Sikander of Malak Mala, Attock — were produced before an accountability court here. The court, presided over by Syed Yahya Zahid Gillani, remanded Islam Badshah and Mohammad Daud to the custody of the NAB for 10 days, and Sikander was remanded to custody for two days because of old age.

According to the NAB, the accused had received millions of rupees as unauthorised compensation for the land acquired for the project. Two prime accused in the case — former land acquisition collector Mohammad Ali Shah and another official Mohammad Akram Awan — are already under arrest on similar charges.

The accused have allegedly caused a loss of Rs60 million to the national exchequer in Malak Mala Patwar circle.

The NAB has alleged that the accused changed the classification of land and received heavy payments for fictitious orchards. It is alleged that Mohammad Daud, who was also member of the Land Valuation Committee (LVC), in connivance with government officials, succeeded in fixation of highly exaggerated prices for the land acquired for the project.