ISLAMABAD: The Accountability Court on Friday indicted former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and nine other accused in the Naudero-II Rental Power Project (RPP) corruption reference.
The Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir Khan read out the charges against 10 accused, including the former prime minister, but the accused pleaded they were not guilty.
Other accused in the Naudero-II RPP corruption reference include former secretary for water and power Shahid Rafi, former additional secretary Sheikh Zarrar Aslam, former managing director of Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) Tahir Basharat Cheema, former directors of Pepco Malik Muhammad Razi Abbas and Wazir Ali Bhayo, Tariq Nazir, Abdul Malik Memon and Rasool Khan Mehsud.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), however, exonerated two other accused, Iqbal Z Ahmed and M N Baig from the corruption reference.
NAB’s Additional Deputy Prosecutor General (ADPG), Chaudhry Riaz, told the court that during the reconciliation process, the NAB had cleared Iqbal Z Ahmed and M N Baig and nothing could be found on record against both of them.
As per the NAB prosecution, Pervaiz Ashraf in his capacity as federal minister for water and power misused his authority in awarding the RPPs to a few selected parties in violation of public procurement rules.The NAB ADPG prayed to the court to proceed against former premier Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and the other accused.
According to the NAB, former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf misused his authority as a federal minister in getting the Economic Coordination Committee’s approval and of cabinet, his wilful failure to exercise authority to prevent the grant, or rendition of any undue benefit or favour, and issuance of illegal policy for an increase in downpayment from 7 percent to 14 pc to rental power companies. Summary for the RPPs was put before the ECC on April 13, 2009 after Raja Pervaiz Ashraf authorised it.
The NAB further alleged that the summary contained misleading facts and misrepresentations, stating that terms and conditions of the bidding envisaging seven percent advance could not be met due to financial difficulties and recommended that it will be raised to 14 percent.
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf was also accused of obtaining kickbacks from nine RPP firms for awarding them contracts to set up their plants in 2008. The RPPs were established to overcome the electricity crisis in the country.
Later, talking to the media, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said that the allegations against him were baseless. As a member of the former government, he had discharged his duties with honesty and devotion, he added.Pervaiz expressed the hope that the court would do justice in this case.
No comments:
Post a Comment