ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau, still pursuing the multi-billion rupees Rental Power Plants case, says no file in the case has been closed and it could summon anyone, including the prime minister, if required in the investigation.
“Yes, the probe is still on and the prime minister could be summoned. But that would depend on the gravity of situation as the investigation team will decide whether the prime minister should be summoned in person or whether a questionnaire should be sent to him,” NAB Spokesman Zafar Iqbal Khan said when he was contacted on Monday.
He said the investigative team would decide whether the presence of a particular person was required or if a questionnaire could serve the purpose.The NAB spokesman said the bureau had in the past also sent a questionnaire to Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, when he was the prime minister, on the issue of appointment of Adnan Khawaja as the OGDCL chairman. Similarly, NAB could send a questionnaire to Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in the RPPs case if required for the investigation.
To a question about the general perception that the NAB has closed the file against Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, the NAB spokesman denied it and confirmed to The News that the probe was still ongoing. The NAB has twice interviewed Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in the RPPs case before he became the prime minister of the country.
The Supreme Court, in its landmark judgment, had directed the chairman NAB to probe all the ministers and government functionaries from 2006 onwards, in accordance with the law and submit fortnightly progress reports to the Registrar for their perusal in the chambers.
In its judgment, the Supreme Courts said: “All the government functionaries, including the ministers for water and power holding charge in 2006 and onward and from 2008 onward, during whose tenure the RPPs were approved/set up and minister as well as secretary finance holding the charge when the down payment was increased from 7% to 14%, prima facie, violated the principle of transparency under Articles 9 & 24 of the Constitution and Section 7 of the Act, 1997, therefore, their involvement in getting financial benefits out of the same by indulging in corruption and corrupt practices cannot be overruled in view of the discussion made hereinabove. Consequently, they are liable to be dealt with under the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 by the NAB.
All the functionaries of Pepco, Gencos, Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) and Nepra along with sponsors (successful bidders) who had derived financial benefits from the RPPs contracts are, prima facie, involved in corruption and corrupt practices; therefore, they are also liable to be included in probe, both for civil and criminal action.”
– Agencies
