PESHAWAR: A panel of the Regional Board Member (RBM) of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has ordered launching investigations into assets of a former Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) provincial lawmaker and senior officials of two universities.
The RBM on Friday held a meeting under the chairmanship of Brig (r) Farooq Naser Awan, KP NAB director general, in Peshawar. Directors, additional directors, case officers, senior legal consultants and other officers concerned attended the meeting.
The member authorises two initial inquiries. First one was against former MPA from PK-8 Tamash Khan, Peshawar, regarding accumulation of assets worth millions of rupees, while the second was against Nek Muhammad, director of University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar, and others for allegedly embezzling Rs 207.5 million during procurement of lab equipment for the UET’s Jalozai campus.
The accused allegedly received kickbacks of Rs 128 million out of Rs 852 million funds sanctioned for PhD scholarship, according to a press release.
The regional board also recommended two inquiries to NAB HQ Islamabad for conversion into investigation. First one was against Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM) Vice Chancellor Dr Ihsan Ali and others. The statement said that the accused allegedly embezzled millions of rupees during procurement of various items/goods and also misappropriated university funds allocated for scholarship and endowment purposes.
The second inquiry was recommended against Mian Arif Ullah Jan, managing director of Mian Arifullah Jan & Co & others regarding embezzlement of funds allocated for construction of 22km Barang Road Bajaur Agency in FATA.
Besides, three references were also recommended for the approval of the NAB chairman. The first one was against Workers Welfare Board (KP) Secretary Tariq Awan & others regarding embezzlement of Rs 1.2 billion during procurement of office equipment, lab books, textbooks, furniture, technical equipment and sport equipment.
The second reference was recommended against Abdul Rahman, superintendent personnel assistance to the land record director of the Board of Revenue, Peshawar, regarding accumulation of assets worth Rs 93 million, which were beyond his known sources of income.
The third reference was recommended against Battagram District Accounts Officer Muhammad Ayaz Qureshi and others regarding misuse of authority.
In this case, the accused person generated fake personal numbers, showing private individuals as government employees, and embezzled Rs 14 million, the statement read.
