Four accused arrested

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Lahore chapter has taken into custody four accused in ‘Saaf Pani Company’ corruption scam.

Those who were arrested included Dr Zahirud Din, Muhammad Saleem Akhtar, Nasir Qadir Bahaddar and Muhammad Masood Akhtar.

As per details, accused Dr Zahirud Din had been working as Chief Technical Officer (CTO) in Saaf Pani Company accompanied by accused Nasir Qadir Bhaddal who had been working as Chief Procurement Officer (CFO) in the same company. Moreover, Associated Consultant Engineer (ACE) accused Muhammad Saleem Akhtar was the Procurement and Contract Specialist attached with Saaf Pani Company Project and accused Muhammad Masood Akhtar, Managing Director, KSB Pumps was the then contractor when financial loss was made.

Sources in the NAB said all the four accused with the alleged connivance and mala fide intentions managed to install around 116 water filtration plants in Bahawalpur region on exorbitant rates. The accused allegedly made all units operational on higher rates as compared to market cost, thereby, causing a loss worth millions of rupees to national kitty.

NAB Lahore investigation officials provided all the four accused with a fair opportunity to defend the allegations levelled against them which the later abruptly failed to defend at all and caused their arrest.

The sources said the NAB is probing into alleged embezzlement committed in 56 public limited companies.

NAB officials would produce all the four accused before accountability court for seeking their physical remand.