NAB inquiry against Sharjeel Memon turns into investigation
KARACHI (92 News) – The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday approved the inquiry against former Sindh information minister Sharjeel Inam Memon into investigation in assets beyond income case.
According to the details garnered, the corruption watchdog body completed an inquiry against Sharjeel Memon and forwarded it to NAB headquarters in Islamabad. It was reported that further investigation will be commenced after formal permission of the chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal.
It is noteworthy that the NAB had initiated inquiry against the former minister over alleged corruption by awarding government advertisements at ‘exorbitant rates’ by abusing his powers, causing loss of more than Rs five billion to the national exchequer.
Sharjeel Memon, along with 11 other accused had been indicted in a graft case pertaining to corruption of Rs 5.76 billion in the Sindh Information Department on February 15 last year.
Earlier, the former minister had been arrested by a NAB team on October 23 after the Sindh High Court (SHC) rejected the bail plea of Sharjeel Memon and others in case related to Rs 5.76 billion corruption.
The former provincial minister and others including Umer Shahzad, Gulzar Ali, Zulfikar Shelwani, Sarang Lateef and Salman Mansoor had petitioned the court seeking their bail in the case pertaining to the corruption of Rs 5.76 billion in the provincial information department.
The court rejected their plea. According to NAB officials, 15 accused were in jail in the case while co-accused Riaz Muneer was on bail and another Aneeta Baloch was declared proclaimed offender. On February 15, an accountability court had indicted former Sindh information minister Sharjeel Memon and 11 others in a corruption case pertaining to abuse of power in order to award of advertisements at inflated rates.
The NAB court adjourned the hearing in corruption case against former Sindh information minister Sharjeel Memon till May 31.
Sharjeel Memon appeared before NAB court with other accused. The NAB could not appear witness against the former minister. The court adjourned the hearing until May 31 due to the absentee of witness. The court ordered to present the witness before court in next hearing.
The NAB has filed a reference against Memon and 10 others in an accountability court in Karachi for alleged corruption of around PKR 5 billion in the Department of Information Sindh.
