Pak's NAB freezes assets, puts prominent figures on ECL in Rental Power Projects case

Islamabad, Apr 3(ANI): Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has frozen the assets of 19 individuals accused in the Rental Power Projects (RPP) case and placed several figures on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Former finance minister Shaukat Tareen and former minister for water and power Raja Pervez Ashraf are placed on the ECL.

Pakistan Chief Justice Iftikar Muhammad Chaudhary had said that legal proceedings should be initiated against all those involved in the RPPs case, The Express Tribune reports.

The properties of 12 RPPs had been cautioned against transfer and action will follow their seizure.

A 90-page verdict, authored by Justice Chaudhry read that the federal government /WAPDA/PEPCO/GENCO had failed to control pilferage of electricity from the system.

"All the government functionaries, including the ministers for water and power-holding charge in 2006 and onward and from 2008 to onward, during whose tenure the RPPs were approved/set up and minister as well as finance secretary holding the charge when the down payment was increased from seven percent to 14 percent, prima facie, violated the principle of transparency under articles 9 and 24 of the constitution and Section 7 of the Act 1997, therefore, their involvement in getting financial benefits out of RPPs by indulging in corruption and corrupt practices cannot be overruled. Consequently, they are liable to be dealt with under the NAB Ordinance 1999 by the NAB," the judgement said. (ANI)