Close aide of Shehbaz’s son-in-law admits corruption charges: NAB

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Saturday claimed that the close aide of Imran Ali, son-in-law of Shehbaz Sharif, has admitted his role in causing loss the national exchequer.

According to the NAB, Ikram Naveed, former CEO of the Punjab Power Development Company (PPDC), confessed his role in embezzling amount up to Rs 490 million while in authority.

The accused also reportedly told NAB that he gave Rs 130 million to Imran Ali out of the total amount. The accountability watchdog has submitted its report in the accountability court today.

Naveed has assured the NAB to return entire amount he acquired through illegal practices.

The accountability court on Oct 11 ordered seizure of property owned by Imran Ali in the same case.

Imran Ali is facing charges of receiving Rs 130 million graft from Ikram Naveed. On August 7, the same accountability court had declared Ali a proclaimed absconder on NAB’s request.

He first appeared before NAB investigators in April but has since missed his scheduled hearings and left the country for London.

In May this year, the NAB again summoned Ali as he was asked to bring details of a transaction of over Rs 100 million deposited to his bank account from the account of the PPDC, but he did not appear in the next hearing.

The Anti-Corruption Establishment had conducted a probe into the matter involving Mr Naveed and Mr Ali in 2016. It had declared Naveed guilty of embezzling Rs 450 m but gave a ‘clean chit’ to Imran Ali.

The ACE had found that Mr Naveed had purchased 19 properties in his and family members’ names.