Decision on pending mega graft cases in Pakistan by month end

Islamabad - December 31 is set as deadline to complete investigations into cases including those against Nawaz Sharif.

The fate of most of the high-profile mega corruption cases pending with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) - including those against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Chaudhry Shujaat Husain, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, etc - will be decided by the end of this year.
According to NAB's official record, the Bureau has set December 31, 2015, as the deadline to finalise its pending investigation against Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif and others in alleged cases of misuse of authority in the construction of a road from Raiwind to Jati Umra, the residence of the Sharifs.
By the set deadline, the concerned section of NAB will recommend to the NAB chairman whether there is enough meat in the allegations to make a reference against the prime minister and others, or if it merits closure of the case.
The case is pending with NAB since 2000, and involves the alleged misappropriation of Rs125 million. Another investigation, pending against Nawaz Sharif since 1999 for alleged illegal appointments in the FIA, will be concluded either in his favour or against by March 31, 2016.
In the case of Ishaq Dar, the deadline set for the completion of the NAB investigation is December 15, 2015.
The investigation against Dar is pending with NAB since 2000. Dar is accused of misuse of authority and for having assets beyond his known means. Now it will be decided whether or not the bureau has any evidence to prosecute the finance minister.
In the case of Chaudhry Shujaat Husain and Pervaiz Elahi, the NAB investigations pertaining to their alleged misuse of authority and having assets beyond their known means have also to be completed by December 31, 2015.
The case against the Chaudhrys of Gujrat was also framed in 2000 before their joining the then military president Pervez Musharraf. By the said deadline, the NAB will decide if the case is worth pursuing or should be dropped.
The same deadline is set for the ongoing inquiry against former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, ex-finance minister Shaukat Tareen and others in alleged cases of misuse of authority in the award of RPP contracts.
Raja and Tareen are facing another inquiry, referred to the NAB by the apex court in the rental power plants (RPP) case, which too has to be completed by end this year.
In regard to a third inquiry against Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and others, the deadline remains the same. This particular inquiry is about alleged misuse of authority in release of funds for a dual road from Sohawa to Chakwal and Mandra to Gujar Khan.
An on-going inquiry against former chief minister of Balochistan Nawab Aslam Raisani for having assets beyond his known sources of income, has to be concluded by December 31, 2015.
Same deadline is set for the inquiry against Abdul Ghafoor Lehri, ex-minister for industries and commerce, Balochistan.
The on-going inquiry against former PPP minister Firdous Ashiq Awan for alleged misuse of authority and embezzlement in moveable property will also be concluded by December 31 whereby the NAB will decide either to drop charges or turn the inquiry into investigation.
These inquiries and investigations are part of the over 150 mega corruption cases, the details of which was shared with the Supreme Court by NAB recently. Besides politicians, these cases also include the name of several high-profile serving/ retired bureaucrats and a few ex-Generals.
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