Aviation minster's asset details being examined, say NAB officials
The financial details of the minister will be compared with those submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan
July 12, 2020
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has begun examining the financial details of Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan in a probe into allegations that he has possession of assets beyond known sources of income.
NAB officials on Sunday said that Sarwar will be summoned by the anti-corruption watchdog if a huge difference appears in the information received and the asset details submitted by him to the Election Commission of Pakistan.
The anti-graft watchdog has also sought for details of the minister's family members — including his wife and children — from the Rawalpindi Revenue Department pertaining to the ongoing probe into his assets.
Earlier, on May 15, Additional Director (Staff) for Director-General NAB Muhammad Saleem Ahmad Khan wrote a letter to Rawalpindi Administration for provision of details about the properties of the federal minister and his family, The News reported.
According to the letter, the NAB is in the process of complaint verification against Ghulam Sarwar Khan. The Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Rawalpindi, was asked to provide “record relating to agriculture, residential and commercial properties/ land/ plots, purchased/ owned/ sold” in the name of Ghulam Sarwar Khan and members of his family.
The “confidential” letter had also contained five names of the ministers of the family along with their identity card numbers. The Rawalpindi administration had been told to provide the required information through concerned Patwari to the Investigation Officer, NAB Rawalpindi.
A NAB official, at the time, had said that verification of such a complaint is "a routine matter".
If an offence is determined, then an inquiry begins and a probe against the suspect is launched.
The minister, responding to the allegations then, had said that he is "not afraid of any inquiry".
He claimed that after entering politics his assets had only seen a reduction as he had never misused his position for financial gains.
NAB sets sights on PTI's Haleem Adil Sheikh
A day earlier, the anti-graft watchdog said it has begun a probe on PTI's Haleem Adil Sheikh over allegations he sold government land illegally.
The bureau, in its letter to the deputy commissioner Malir, requested all records pertaining to the sale of 253 acres of government land along with details of Sheikh's farmhouse and other documents.
“In connection with a complaint being processed in this Bureau, it is revealed that 253 acres of government land situation in District Malir Karachi has been illegally occupied/sold by Haleem Adil Sheikh and others in connivance with the officers/officials of Board of Revenue District Malir Karachi," the letter said, adding, ACE, East Zone Karachi also conducted an inquiry into the matter.
