ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has launched investigation against Minister for Information and Technology Anusha Rehman, former finance minister Ishaq Dar and former chairman Pakistan Telecom Authority Syed Ismail Shah and others in case of illegal award of contract of the Next Generation Mobile Services.
The NAB has also written to the State Bank of Pakistan, Federal Board Revenue and Election Commission of Pakistan to get details of the accused’s bank accounts and assets. They said that billion of rupees were involved in this case and the Executive Board of NAB had also given the approval of investigation.
The Bureau has also directed all the three departments to provide the said details about Anusha Rehman, Dar and Shah till June 4, 2018 to NAB Rawalpindi Bureau.
In 2014, Pakistan raised 1.1 billion US dollars from 3-G and 4-G auctions. Several national and multinational companies were part of the bid. Interestingly, Ishaq Dar is also facing a corruption reference in case of assets beyond known sources of income in the Accountability court and he fled the country to avoid accountability.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had rejected the summary of ex-PTA Chairman Dr Ismail Shah’s reappointment and directed the Cabinet Division to advertise the post of the authority’s chairman due to NAB case.
The premier had also raised serious observations over the summary of Dr Shah’s appointment again as PTA chief and sent it back to the Cabinet Division.
The PM said the re-appointment of Dr Shah as PTA chairman will be a violation of the Supreme Court’s order. Earlier, a special committee headed by Interior Minister Ashan Iqbal had recommended extension in the service of Dr Shah for another four years. Sources also said that the Bureau can summon Anusha Rehman, Dar and Shah after receiving their assets details from the State Bank of Pakistan, ECP and Federal Board Revenue.
