ISLAMABAD, Aug 31: In view of concerns expressed by the Supreme Court over NAB investigation into allegations of a business deal between Arsalan Iftikhar and Malik Riaz, the bureau formed a three-member committee on Friday to ascertain if there was any lapse in the probe.

“NAB Chairman Admiral (retd) Fasih Bokhari has constituted an inquiry committee to ascertain the circumstances leading to adverse remarks for NAB by the Supreme Court in its judgment on Thursday in the Arsalan Iftikhar-Malik Riaz case with special reference to paras 21 and 25 of the order,” bureau’s spokesman Zafar Iqbal said.

The committee headed by a senior director general has been tasked to find out weaknesses and lapses on the part of the joint investigation team.

The spokesman said the committee would recommend remedial measures to avoid reoccurrence of such a situation in future NAB proceedings. It has been asked to submit its report in 10 days.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Iqbal said NAB would not send its report to the Supreme Court, but would make it public to let everyone know the factual position. The findings of the committee would also be of help in future investigations, especially in high-profile cases.

An official who did not want to be named said it was surprising that while the Supreme Court expressed dissatisfaction over the probe and transferred the case to Federal Tax Ombudsman Dr Shoaib Suddle as a one-man commission, the findings and evidences gathered by the NAB would be used for further proceedings because the court had ordered the bureau to hand over the entire record of the case to the one-man commission.

“Dr Shoaib is at present abroad and the material collected by the JIT in the case will be handed over to him on his return,” a senior NAB official said.

He said the JIT had gathered a lot of information based on documents received from banks, Federal Bureau of Revenue and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority and statements made by the accused in the case.