Islamabad, August 26, 2021 (PPI-OT):Honourable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal, Chairman NAB chaired a meeting to review the performance of NAB Sukkur especially conviction made under Section 10 of National Accountability Ordinance (NAO)-1999 and under Section 25 (B) of NAO-1999 during the tenure of the present management of NAB at NAB Headquarter. Hussain Asghar, Deputy Chairman NAB, Syed Asghar Haider, Prosecutor General Accountability (PGA), Zahir Shah, DG Operations NAB and other senior officers of NAB attended at the meeting, Mirza Muhammad Irfan Baig, DG NAB Sukkur also participated in the meeting via video link.
During the meeting Mirza Muhammad Irfan Baig, DG NAB Sukkur informed that under the dynamic leadership of Honourable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal, Chairman NAB, NAB Sukkur also identified theft / embezzlement of 253,551.7 Metric Ton wheat amounting to Rs. 27.8 Billion out of which an amount of Rs. 19.2 Billion has been recovered and handed over to the Govt of Sindh. This recovery of embezzled wheat was done when there was acute shortage of wheat due to less production in 2019-2020. The Chief Secretary Sindh has also issued a letter of appreciation addressed to Honourable Chairman NAB in this regard.
DG NAB Sukkur informed that there are total 109x RO / UF water plants in Sukkur city which were not operational but now all of them are functioning due to the efforts made by NAB Sukkur in coordination with Public Health Engineering Department Sukkur under its prove. During the meeting, it was informed that Accountability Court Sukkur on 25th August, 2021 announced its judgment in reference No. 01/2020, titled “State Vs Parshotam Lal” whereby the accused Parshotam Lal, Lessee of M/s Shikarpur Flour Mill, Industrial Area, District Shikarpur was convicted/sentenced for 7 years of rigorous imprisonment along with fine of Rs. 109.820 million.
The accused Parshotam Lal, Lessee of M/s Shikarpur Flour Mill, Industrial Area, District Shikarpur got issued 25,000 wheat bags against (9) nine post-dated cheques on one month credit basis. The accused malafidely submitted nine cheques with the Food Department without any balance in his bank accounts. These cheques were dishonoured.
Instead of paying the amount outstanding against Parshotam Lal for 25,000 wheat bags issued to him, he absconded and avoided the process of Law. Accused Parshotam Lal was arrested after the due process of Law and reference was filed against him in the learned Accountability Court Sukkur.
DG NAB Sukkur further informed that NAB Sukkur in pursuance of mission of Worthy Chairman NAB regarding zero tolerance against corruption is committed to make corruption free Pakistan on the principles of merit and transparency as per law. During the period from 2018 to 2020, NAB Sukkur filed 67x References in the Accountability Court Sukkur.
During the said period, 32x accused persons were convicted u/s 10 of NAO, 1999 and also fine to the tune of Rs. 880 million imposed upon them. Whereas, 242x accused persons were convicted us/ 25(B) of NAO, 1999 who returned Rs. 2.77 Billion through Plea Bargain after approval by the Learned Accountability Court Sukkur. He also informed that the Hon’ble Sindh High Court Bench at Sukkur CP No. 1115/2009 in its judgement ordered for recovery of forest land in the entire Sindh province from illegal occupants / encroachers.
Consequently, out of land measuring 1,051,326 acres, an area of 874,163 acres has been mutated by the Revenue Department in favour of the Sindh Forest Department. Whereas, the forest land more than 250,000 acres has so far been recovered from encroachers by NAB Sukkur.
He further informed that the menace of electricity theft has also been addressed with joint efforts of SEPCO and NAB Sukkur and an amount of Rs. 7.9 Billion in the year 2020 and Rs. 1.810 Billion in the year 2021 has so far been recovered. During the meeting Mirza Muhammad Irfan Baig, DG NAB Sukkur informed that under the dynamic leadership of Honourable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal, Chairman NAB, NAB Sukkur in all above NAB operations, made Rs. 28 billion recovery directly and indirectly in convictions u/s 10 and 25(B) of NAO, 1999, in wheat scam and electricity theft etc.
The Honourable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal, Chairman NAB said that NAB’s anti-corruption strategy has been acknowledged by reputed national and international organization which resulted in recovery of Rs. 535 billion from corrupt elements with overall conviction ratio of 66.8 percent during the tenure of the present management of NAB.
He appreciated the performance of NAB Sukkur under the supervision of Mirza Muhammad Irfan Baig, DG NAB Sukkur and hoped that NAB Sukkur will continue to perform its official duties in future with same zeal and commitment.
For more information, contact:
National Accountability Bureau (NAB)
Attaturk Avenue G-5/2, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-111-NAB-NAB (111-622-622)
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Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Website: www.nab.gov.pk