National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday launched an investigation into contracts allotted during the tenure of current Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar.
According to sources, the anti-graft watchdog has sought records from Lahore Development Authority (LDA), Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Agency (TEPA), and other departments in this regard.
The bureau has also directed the concerned authorities to submit details of key development projects’ contracts, in a move some elements claim is aimed at getting rid of the provincial chief executive despite NAB’s repeated reminders that it is an autonomous institution.
Earlier, CM Buzdar had appeared before NAB Lahore office in a case of allegedly issuing a liquor licence to a hotel in violation of the law.
Buzdar handed over all the documents regarding the issuance of a liquor license to the anti-corruption bureau and said, “I do not know anything as I am not prepared. Give me time to think and answer these questions”.
Meanwhile, former director-general (DG) of Excise Akram Ashraf Gondal also recorded his statement and claimed he had informed Chief Minister Office that issuance of the liquor license will be against the policy and rules as NOCs were not complete.
However, he approved the license on the request of then principal secretary to chief minister Raheel Ahmed Siddiqui.
Former Excise DG Akram Ashraf Gondal had also submitted an application to become an approver in the case.
