ISLAMABAD: An interim investigation report submitted by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Supreme Court on Saturday stated that the country suffered losses of Rs27 billion in the Nandipur project due to the delay caused by the federal law ministry in 2009.
The law minister at the time was Babar Awan in the PPP-led government and the petition against the delay was filed by former foreign minister Khawaja Asif in 2011.
The delay in providing a legal opinion on the matter resulted in the loss to the national exchequer with NAB revealing further that despite requests by the Ministry of Water and Power, the law ministry failed to fulfil its responsibility. The project was delayed due to a rift between both federal ministries.
The report further stated that during the investigation, it was found that officers and officials of the law ministry failed to exercise their authority lawfully and committed corruption offences under NAB’s laws.
The accountability added that it possesses all relevant record from both ministries and the statements of the accused and witnesses are being recorded.
In June, vowing to expose the alleged ‘fraud’ in the project, the SC directed NAB to expedite its investigation of alleged corruption in Nandipur power project.
