Aitzaz for NAB probe into Nandipur scam

The senior PPP leader said that the 'mega-scandal' should be thoroughly investigated.

By Afzal Khan

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Published: Thu 8 Oct 2015, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Thu 8 Oct 2015, 11:07 AM

Islamabad: Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) senior leader Senator Aitzaz Ahsan on Wednesday called for a criminal trial and an investigation by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of alleged corruption and irregularities in the Nandipur power project.
Speaking during a debate on an adjournment motion in the Upper House of Parliament, Senate, on Wednesday, Aitzaz said that accusations against the federal government were very serious.
"This project is not a technical matter but a matter of corruption. There is no way to escape it," he said.
The senior PPP leader said that the 'mega-scandal' should be thoroughly investigated.
Water and Power Minister Khawaja Mohammed Asif said the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) government had taken up a bad project left in limbo by the previous PPP government. He said the government is willing to assign probe to any credible organisation.
The opposition accuses the government of raising the cost from Rs29 billion to Rs85 billion.
The debate on corruption in the mega project took an ugly turn when both sides traded serious accusations.
Aitzaz highlighted the alleged "mega scams" of the government like Nandipur and Metro bus projects and asked how Nawaz Sharif, who had paid only Rs477 income tax in three years from 1994 to 1996, had become a billionaire.
"We have suggested that the Nandipur project be investigated by the National Accountability Bureau," Aitzaz said.
Khawaja Asif said that he had no objection on whether the probe is carried out by NAB or on some other agency.
"Even today, there are several plants which we sometimes shut down or make them operational comparing the fuel and per unit costs," he said.
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