ISLAMABAD - The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday in its Executive Board meeting authorized an inquiry against the National Highway Authority (NHA) officials for their alleged involvement in the award of tender of five toll plazas in a controversial manner. 

Chairman NAB Admiral (Retd) Fasih Bokhari presided over the meeting. The accused persons were alleged for misusing the authority and violating the PPRA rules in awarding the tender of five toll plazas located at Iqbal Shaheed, Haro, Mandra, Tarraki and Jhelum. NHA floated tender for its five Toll Plazas in September 2011.
NAB observed that the bidding process was in violation of Public Procurement Rules (PPRA) and advised NHA under its Prevention Regime to re-tender the award of the said toll plazas on priority basis.
NHA was warned to take corrective measures to ensure transparency and impartiality in the light of PPRA Rules 2004. A clear-cut violation of PPRA Rules 2004 was again observed by NAB in the re-tendering process.
NHA ignored NAB direction three times. NAB’s Awareness and Prevention Division vide its letter dated 2nd October 2012 has clearly mentioned that the subject tendering tantamount to mis-procurement under the Public Procurement Rules 2004 and misuse of authority under Section 9 of NAO 1999 as major violations and irregularities have been observed.
Meanwhile, the Board also decided to close three inquiries: first against Abdul Majeed Khan, DIG Police, who was alleged for accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income and purchase of 12-acre agriculture land in Quaidabad, Bin Qasim Town, Karachi, due to lack of incriminating evidence.
Second against Sadiq Ali Khan, former MD, Utility Stores Corporation Pakistan (USCP), Amir Muhammad Khan, former Procurement Manager USC and others. The accused persons were alleged for loss of Rs 6.783 million due to short receipt of pulses imported from Turkey.
In March 2002, the then ad hoc PAC discussed on audit para regarding loss of Rs 6.783 million to USCP on account of short receipt of imported pulses (Dal Masoor) from Turkey. The ad hoc PAC had directed the concerned Ministry to refer the case to the NAB for investigation.
NAB has referred case back to the Ministry of Industries and Production for departmental action.
Third against Azam Khan, Muazzam Khan, Zulfiqar Ali Khan and Sikandar Khan. The accused persons were alleged for massive fraud, money laundering and tax evasion of an amount of more than 100 million Euros in Belgium. The request for legal assistance was received from Embassy of Belgium. As per request of Belgium, legal assistance has been provided and NAB has closed the case at its end.