RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday approved inquiries against Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, former health minister Aamir Mehmood Kiani, as well as certain officials of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

A meeting of the NAB’s executive board chaired by former Justice Javed Iqbal held earlier on Tuesday green-signalled the three inquiries, said a statement issued by the top anti-graft body.

Details of the inquiries against Kiani and the officials of the PCAA and the CDA were unclear; however, the one against Dr Mirza - who has been spearheading Pakistan’s response to the coronavirus pandemic - was made based on complaints against him. The notification mentioned that the purpose of providing details from the NAB’s executive meeting was not to hurt anyone but that all of the inquiries were initiated on the basis of allegations. Kiani was removed as health minister back in April 2019 during a major cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Imran Khan after almost nine months of holding the post. He faces allegations of illegally bumping up the prices of medicines.

On the other hand, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had recently initiated action on a complaint of the Young Pharmacists Association, which had accused Dr Mirza had face masks smuggled in collaboration with the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Deputy Director Ghazanfar Ali.