ISLAMABAD: NAB (National Accountability Bureau) which is an apex
institution of the country for curbing menace of corruption has been
found involved in sheer financial irregularities.
Sources told
it was disclosed in the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) Report
presented in the parliament with respect to NAB related matters that
Saifur Rehman who was NAB chairman during Nawaz Sharif regime hired the
services of foreign firms through embassies to bring back in the
country the money stashed in off shore accounts of Asif Ali Zardari and
Benazir Bhutto. The accounts of these firms were also opened in Union
Bank of Switzerland and United National Bank London and payment to them
were made from 1997 to 2008.
As per report payment over 136
million rupees was made to foreign law firms in the case of Benazir
Bhutto versus Pakistan. A sum of Rs 22.7 million was paid to foreign
firms in Manwals group case. This group was involved in foreign
vehicles import scandal and this payment was made to bring back the
money of this group deposited in foreign banks accounts besides
execution of agreements in connection with assets.
Payments of
Rs over 130 million were made to 3 foreign law firms and NAB had
refused to provide record with respect to this amount to Auditor
General.
Sources told Online that Auditor General was of the
view that no proper system was in place to monitor the performance of
these firms. Payments were made on plain paper claims and no record was
provided containing details of what benefit was achieved by the
government by hiring the services of these firms. The copies of the
agreements reached with these three firms were also not produced to
audit.
NAB said that the then chairman had hired the services
of lawyers, advisors, consultants and experts in connection with cases
running in foreign countries. As the nature of these cases was very
sensitive therefore, the services of firms were hired without tenders.
However all the cases were withdrawn following the promulgation of
National Reconciliation Ordinance.
When contacted by Online the
then prosecutor Shahzad Akbar told that the services of these three
firms were hired for London, Geneva and Spain and the then chairman of
National Accountability Cell Saifur Rehman had selected these firms
through embassies. Online
