NAB arrests KP ex-police chief in arms procurement scandal
21 November, 2013
PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau Wednesday arrested former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police chief Malik Naveed in a weapons scandal of billions of rupees.
The regional NAB office said that the accused would be produced before the accountability court on Thursday (today) for his physical remand. "During preliminary investigations, the accused made important revelations," NAB said in a press statement.
Malik Naveed was the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief between 2008 and 2010. He was instrumental in sensitising both Islamabad and Washington with a famous interview in which he said that Peshawar "will fall to Taliban", consequently getting billions of rupees to arm the police force with latest communication means and weapons to fight the Taliban-led militancy.
"On receipt of complaints, NAB had authorised an inquiry against police officers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for alleged embezzlement in procurement of weapons, equipment and vehicles in 2008-09-10 by violating the government rules, thus, causing huge loss to state exchequer," the NAB statement said.
It added: "On request of KP Police Department, the (then provincial) government had approved purchase, upgrading weapon and equipment for its use to counter the unabated law and order and security situation in the province. An amount of over Rs 7 billion was released for procurement of weapons, vehicles and equipment in year 2008-2010."
Malik Naveed joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf after retirement. "During the inquiry, it was revealed that gross violation of procurement rules were committed by the purchase committee in awarding tenders to favourite contractors who had no previous experience of supplying such items and for which payments were made in advance," the statement said.
NAB has also arrested Mufti Shabbir Ahmad Usmani, CEO Al Wasey Group, and his brother Sajjad Ahmad in the Modarba scandal. They were arrested from Taxila and are involved in collection of cash from the general public in the name of Modarba scheme, which promised profit on a monthly basis. NAB had received claims from the general public amounting to Rs 14 million against Mufti Shabbir Ahmad. The accused persons will be produced before administrative judge of Accountability Court, Islamabad tomorrow.
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