NAB DG Lahore asked to conduct inquiry

ISLAMABAD: Justice Javed Iqbal, Chairman NAB has ordered Director General NAB, Lahore to conduct inquiry in allegedly illegal award of mining lease worth 4 billion dollars for extracting precious minerals in Chiniot, Punjab and corruption into the award of the agreement to a allegedly fake company, Earth Resource Private Limited (ERPL), by Punjab government in 2007 as all these assets of worth billions of dollars were allegedly handed over to ERPL through a written agreement, making a mockery of merit and transparency.

After taking notice by the chairman NAB in alleged illegal award of mining lease, DG Lahore has started inquiry after constituting a Combined Investigation Team (CIT).

The CIT would inquire that why NAB had closed the inquiry in the past and would also ascertain the responsible of closure of the inquiry. The Chairman NAB has also directed to get guidance from the decisions of high court and the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the instant case. The chairman NAB ordered the CIT to complete inquiry within the prescribed period of time keeping in view the solid evidence and legal aspects. No laxity would be tolerated in this regard, said a press release.—PR