The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has reopened corruption cases against former chief ministers of Balochistan. The anti-corruption watchdog has submitted records of all corruption references against the 65 accused individuals to the court.
The corruption cases involve investigations into senior officers from various departments, including NHA, Customs, QDA, Revenue, Mines and Minerals, PDMA, as well as food and health departments. Additionally, NAB has initiated an investigation into corruption charges against several housing societies.
Nawaz and Shehbaz Cases
Following the Supreme Court’s verdict, NAB is planning to reopen cases against PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif. The Ramzan sugar mill case against Shehbaz Sharif and the plot allotment case against Nawaz Sharif will be reopened.
In addition, NAB will also reopen cases against other prominent political figures and bureaucrats, including Rana Mashhood and former VC Punjab University Mujahid Kamran. The Paragon Housing Society case against former federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq and Salman Rafiq, as well as the misuse of powers case against former Speaker Punjab Assembly Sabtain Khan, are also expected to be reopened.
Previously, NAB had sent back references against politicians to accountability courts after the Supreme Court declared some sections of the amendments made to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) last year as invalid. However, with the recent Supreme Court verdict, corruption cases against public representatives will be restored and sent back to the accountability courts.
Notable cases that will be revisited include the Toshakhana reference against Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari, and Yousuf Raza Gilani, the LNG reference against Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the rental power reference against Raja Pervez Ashraf, and the assets beyond means case against Ishaq Dar.
NAB Law Amendment
The NAB (Second Amendment) Bill 2021 states that the deputy chairman of NAB, appointed by the federal government, will become the acting chairman of the bureau after the completion of the chairman’s tenure. This bill also shortens the four-year term of the NAB chairman and restricts NAB from acting on tax matters. Furthermore, the proposed law sets a three-year term for judges of the accountability courts and mandates NAB to provide evidence against an accused prior to their arrest.