NAB initiates inquiry into Capt (retd) Safdar’s assets
NAB had started investigation into allegations of corruption against him in January too
March 26, 2018
ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday approved to initiate inquiry against Captain (retd) Safdar for allegedly owning assets disproportionate to his income.
The decision was taken in a NAB meeting headed by the bureau’s chairman Javed Iqbal.
A press release issued by stated the bureau will probe Safdar’s assets, especially 300 kanal land, 30 kanal plot, 1 kanal house, all in Mansehra. In addition, the anti-graft body will also investigate a floor mill in Township, Mansehra held by the son-in-law of former premier Nawaz Sharif.
NAB has also decided to probe Rs9 billion allegedly given illegally to Safdar by the cabinet division under the Prime Minister's Global Sustainable Development Goals Program.
Safdar already faces inquiry by NAB and is named in one of the three references filed against the Sharifs in light of the Panama Papers verdict.
NAB had started investigation into allegations of corruption against him in January too.
Safdar is accused of misappropriation of funds worth Rs2 billion in ongoing development projects in his constituency, NA-21 Mansehra.
Sources said that the complaint against Safdar was filed by a resident of the constituency.
The references
NAB, in total, filed three references against the Sharif family and another against the then-finance minister Ishaq Dar in the accountability court, in light of the Supreme Court's orders in the Panama Papers case verdict of July 28.
The anti-graft body was given six weeks, from the date of the apex court's order, to file the reference in an accountability court while the accountability court was granted six months to wrap up the proceedings.
The corruption references against the Sharif family pertain to the Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metals Establishment, their London properties, and over dozen offshore companies allegedly owned by the family.
Maryam and Safdar are only nominated in the London properties reference. At an earlier hearing, the court also approved Maryam and Safdar's bail in the Avenfield properties case and ordered them to submit surety bonds worth Rs5 million each.
Safdar was also directed to take the court's permission before leaving the country from now on. The judge also provided a copy of the reference — spread over 53 volumes — to Maryam and Safdar.
NAB's Rawalpindi branch prepared two references regarding the Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metals Establishment, and the nearly dozen companies owned by the Sharif family.
Its Lahore branch prepared a reference on the Sharif family's Avenfield apartments in London and another against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for owning assets beyond his known sources of income.
If convicted, the accused may face up to 14 years imprisonment and lifelong disqualification from holding public office including the freezing of bank accounts and assets.
