ISLAMABAD: Nearly half of the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) 179 mega corruption cases have been either closed or disposed of, benefitting several prominent politicians, including the Sharif brothers. The list of these cases was initially submitted to the Supreme Court in 2015.
Among the beneficiaries are former prime ministers Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, and Nawab Aslam Khan Raisani. A case of assets beyond known sources of income against President Asif Ali Zardari was also included in the list, but he was acquitted.
Other closed corruption inquiries involve notable figures such as former Habib Bank Limited (HBL) chief Younus Habib, Hussain Haqqani, Senator Sehar Kamran, and the Schon Group. Out of the 179 cases, there have been only ten convictions and about 19 acquittals, according to NAB’s recent updates.
Details shared by NAB on its official website, as directed by the Supreme Court, indicate that the original list of 179 mega cases included 81 inquiries, 52 investigations, and 46 court references as of May 2015. As of April 30, 2024, three inquiries and four investigations are still in progress, 87 references are under trial, and 85 cases have been disposed of, including decisions in favor of or against the accused.
In July 2023, NAB closed an investigation against Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, and others related to alleged misuse of authority in the construction of a road from Raiwind to the Sharif family’s residence. Another investigation against Nawaz Sharif regarding alleged illegal appointments in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was closed in 2017.
An inquiry against Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and his principal secretary regarding alleged misuse of authority in the release of funds for roads from Sohawa to Chakwal and Mandra to Gujjar Khan was also closed in 2017. Similarly, an investigation into Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s alleged assets beyond means was closed in 2021.
Three inquiries remain pending due to restraining orders by the Lahore High Court (LHC). After more than nine years, an investigation against the management of DHA Valley Islamabad is still ongoing, as is an investigation against former commerce minister Mir Abdul Ghafoor Lehri.
Among the 179 cases, one involving the construction of the Grand Hyatt Tower by CDA officials and the BNP Group is still under adjudication in the Supreme Court. Despite the closure of numerous cases, the NAB has only secured ten convictions, some of which resulted from plea bargains, while nearly 19 cases have led to acquittals.
