NAB investigation against top PML-N leaders soon

Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab governor among 50 leaders face probe

islamabad — The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to begin investigations against 50 PML-N leaders hailed from Punjab, including sitting governor Rafiq Rajwana as well as many members of the Sharif family.

The PML-N leaders against whom inquiry might be initiated, including Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and other influential members of the ruling party, face charges of making assets beyond their known sources of income, misappropriation, grabbing of state land and corruption in public funds.

Governor Rafiq Rajwana faces the charge that he embezzled about Rs1 billion in the purchase of land for Bahauddin Zakriya University Lahore campus when he was legal adviser of the university.

The NAB has already held his two associates in the scam including the former vice-chancellor and the former registrar of the univer- sity as they were at helm of affairs at the time when this corruption took place.

Key members of the Sharif Family including Shahbaz Sharif, his sons Hamza Shahbaz and Salman Shahbaz as well as directors of Ramzan Sugar Mills face the charges of possessing illegal assets, leasing public land for their own business and corruption in funds meant for the construction of bridge over River Chenab which was made with the funds from Municipal Committee Chiniot.

It has also been decided to instigate probe against Punjab Assembly’s Deputy Speaker Akhtar Gorchani for grabbing the state land.

Inquiries have been pending against provincial ministers Rana Sanaullah and Rana Mashood for making illegal assets, misuse of power and pocketing public money.

It is possible that investigations against MNAs Rana Ishaq, Iftikhar Shah and MPA Sardar Asif Nakai might be launched on corruption charges.

According to sources, a corruption probe is also pending against MPA Waris Khakoo and owner of Hussnain Construction Company Rashida Yaqoob.

Investigations might also be initiated against former MNA Hanif Abbasi in a massive corruption scandal in the Metro Bus Project in Rawalpindi.

The sources said that a probe into the procurement of petrol for police costing Rs650 million is in final stages and high-ups of the police department may also be questioned in this regard.

The NAB sources said corruption cases worth billions of rupees against the top bureaucracy of Punjab would also be initiated whereas the investigation against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif has also been completed. —