QUETTA: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Balochistan has submitted details of 65 corruption references and around 30 cases of corruption to the accountability court, Quetta.
In the light of the decision of the Supreme Court, more than 65 references against former and present parliamentarians, bureaucrats and other influential persons including three former chief ministers of Balochistan had been restored.
In compliance with the apex court’s order of striking down some sections of the amendments made to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) of 1999 by the previous government, the NAB Balochistan also reopened over 30 inquiries and investigations.
The bureau filed an application with the court asking to initiate legal proceedings as per apex court judgment.
On the orders of Director General NAB Balochistan, the legal team of NAB had submitted the files of about 65 cases in the Accountability Court.
“Legal action on more than 65 references, and over 30 cases of inquiries and investigations have once again started,” the sources said adding that three former chief ministers were among others who had been benefited the amendment made in the previous regime would be facing court proceedings.
The DG NAB Balochistan has issued orders for immediate action on more than 30 inquiries and investigations.
It may be recalled that during the previous government, progress on hundreds of cases involving corruption of billions of rupees was stopped by amendments in the NAB laws.
After the Supreme Court’s recent decision, in a high-level meeting presided over by Chairman NAB, instructions were issued to the heads of all regional NAB’s to resume the cases closed after the amendments in the NAB laws.
Among the reopened cases are former chief ministers, several parliamentarians, grade 20 and 21 officers and several influential figures.
Apart from this, legal action has also been initiated against several housing societies that have been defrauding the public.
It merits mentioning here that among the three accountability courts in Balochistan, one accountability court has been abolished following the orders of the former government, while the appointment of a respected judge has been implemented recently for one of the two accountability courts and the judge of the other court is yet to be appointed.