ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau has decided that it will not arrest election candidates until the polling day on July 25.
The decision was taken in the NAB Executive Board Meeting held in the chair of NAB Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal at the Bureau Headquarters, Islamabad on Wednesday. The meeting reviewed the ongoing cases thoroughly against the PML-N leaders, including cases of former foreign minister Khwaja Asif, ex-state minister Rana Afzal, former Punjab minister Rana Mashood and ex-MNA Rai Mansab and it decided to delay their cases till elections to enable them to participate in the elections.
The NAB has once again clarified that it has no link with election or politics. The cases have been kept pending till July 25.
The NAB decided to file four corruption references and also authorised several investigations and inquiries against politicians, businessmen and government officials.
The NAB has also decided to file corruption reference against former Inspector General Police Sindh Ghulam Haider Jamali and others in case of misuse of authority and corruption. They caused a loss of Rs160 million to the national exchequer.
The second reference has been decided to file against former Director General Punjab Land Development Company, Shahid Shafiq, Alam Afridi, Chief Executive M/s Bismillah Engineering, Owners of M/s Lahore Casa Developers and officials of Lahore Development Authority in case of embezzlement and misuse of authority. The accused caused lose of Rs660 million to national kitty in this case. The NAB has decided to file third corruption reference against ex-DG Quetta Development Noor Ahmed Pir Kani in case of misuse of authority. He allegedly allotted the plots of his favourite people in Zargoon Housing Scheme and Karani Housing Scheme and caused a loss of 30 million to national exchequer.
The NAB approved fourth reference against former managing director water and Sanitation Agency Quetta Hamid Latif and others for having income beyond known sources of income and causing Rs354.9 million losses to national kitty. It has also approved filing reference against former IG Punjab in corruption in official funds of Vehari police and misuse of authority. They have inflicted losses of millions of rupee to national kitty.
The NAB board has authorised first inquiry against administration of Punjab Sports Board and Youth Festival in case of misuse of authority and corruption and they caused loss of 1739 million in this case. The second inquiry has been authorised against officials of Social Relief Fund in case of Rs13 billion corruption.