Reko Diq Project: NAB files Mega Reference against 26 accused
Our Reporter :
QUETTA: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed a mega reference against 26 accused of inflicting financial losses of trillions of rupees to the national exchequer in the Reko Diq Project. The accused include former key Balochistan officials, representatives of the government and some officers of the private company for causing the financial losses.
The Director-General NAB Operations and DG NAB Balochistan thoroughly investigated the three-decade-old record of the mega corruption case and filed the reference after getting solid evidence of corruption and irregularities, the Spokesman NAB said in a statement released to the press.
“The accused violated national interests for their personal greed/ interest”, he mentioned.
In 1993, the Balochistan Development Authority (BDA) and Broken Hills Properties, an Australian company signed the Chaghi Hills Exploration Agreement. The Spokesman noted that the BDA officers extended illegal support to the Australian company in the agreement, thus inflicting trillions of rupees loss to Pakistan.
Mining Rules amended to provide benefits to Tethyan Copper Company
Contrary to national interests, mining concession rules were amended to provide benefits to Tethyan Copper Company (TCC) as well. Through sub-agreements, the officers provided financial profits of billions of rupees to TCC, he stated.
Apart from this, the officers of the revenue department also provided benefits to the company in terms of land allotments to get personal benefits. The accused have also confessed taking personal benefits, he added.
TCC employees were also found to bribing the officers to get billions of rupees’ profits. Through corruption and irregularities, the country suffered major financial losses instead of benefits from the Reko Diq Project.
The NAB filed a reference against the 26 accused after permission of the Chairman NAB Justice (R) Javed Iqbal on Tuesday.
Reko Diq Project: NAB files Mega Reference against 26 accused
