NAB Accelerates Investigation into £190 Million Scam Involving 22 Former Federal Ministers

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has intensified its efforts to expedite the investigation into a £190 million scam involving 22 former federal ministers, as it delves into a complex web of alleged corruption. In pursuit of justice, the anti-corruption watchdog has reached out to all provincial excise departments, requesting comprehensive records pertaining to vehicles, properties, and bank accounts linked to the aforementioned ex-ministers.

Among the prominent figures under investigation are Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Murad Saeed, Pervez Khattak, Zubaida Jalal, Hammad Azhar, Shafqat Mehmood, Shireen Mazari, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Ejaz Ahmed Shah, Ali Amin Gandapur, Farogh Naseem, Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Asad Umar, Omer Ayub, Fawad Chaudhry, Mehboob Sultan, Faisal Vawda, Ali Zaidi, Azam Swati, Sheikh Rashid, and Zaheeruddin Babar Awan.

In its quest for transparency and accountability, the NAB has also sought detailed information regarding any vehicles purchased or sold by the former ministers between January 2018 and 2023.

Notably, the investigation team has already recorded statements from a majority of the former ministers, gathering crucial evidence and testimonies in relation to the alleged scam.

Furthermore, on June 7, the NAB has summoned the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, as well as his wife, Bushra Bibi, for questioning. Bushra Bibi has been called upon to provide her statement as a witness, given her role as the trustee of the Al-Qadir University Trust.

The genesis of this convoluted case traces back to 2019 when the British government uncovered £140 million in an account belonging to the son of a prominent Pakistani real estate magnate. Acting on suspicions of the funds being derived from illicit activities, the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) froze the assets. In 2019, the British government repatriated the funds to Pakistan.

Subsequently, on December 3, 2019, the case was presented to the Pakistani cabinet by the then-special assistant to the prime minister, Mirza Shahzad Akbar. Surprisingly, the cabinet approved the settlement without thoroughly examining its contents.

Through the course of investigations, it has been revealed that, as part of the settlement, the aforementioned property tycoon transferred a vast tract of land measuring 458 Kanal, 4 Marla, and 58 square feet in Jhelum to the Al-Qadir Trust. At the time, the trustees of the Al-Qadir Trust included the then-prime minister, Imran Khan, his wife, Bushra Bibi, and his senior advisors, Zulfiqar Bukhari and Babar Awan. However, Awan and Bukhari were subsequently ousted from their positions within the trust.

Presently, the NAB is diligently exploring the possibility of corrupt practices within the settlement and investigating whether the former ministers gained any financial advantages from their involvement in the case. This ongoing investigation is a crucial step towards ensuring accountability and upholding the principles of justice in Pakistan.