PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has raided the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) building and seized all Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) records in connection with its ongoing probe into alleged irregularities in the mega project.
A NAB official said that all the records of the under-construction project have been collected and shifted to their office. He, however, added that no arrests have been made so far.
On July 21, the anti-corruption watchdog ordered a probe into alleged corruption, rise in costs and delays in the mega project in Peshawar. NAB Chairman Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal, in a notice, directed the province’s NAB director general to launch the probe.
Back on July 19, the Peshawar High Court had ordered the NAB to launch an investigation and submit a report in this regard on September 5.
The petition was submitted by Amanullah Haqqani, a leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), stating that a feasibility report of the project had not been prepared before it was launched.
The petitioner accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government of misleading the public to make them believe the project would be completed within six months.
“The delay, the contract awarding process, feasibility and other issues related to the project of BRT are shady and shaky,” PHC Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth said in a written order. The verdict was co-authored by Justice Mussarat Hilali.
The order stated that the scope of the project had increased by 50 per cent while the last date of its completion was June 21.
It went on to add that the initial approved cost was an estimated Rs 48.3 billion but a revised proposal called for an approval of Rs 67.9 billion. This, the court said, needed further investigation.
