NAB finds three ex-generals, two Baboos guilty

Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau is giving final touches to send a reference against three retired generals and two civilian officers in the Accountability Court within next few days in a multibillion scam of Royal Palm Golf Club.
According to sources, the investigating team of the NAB is analysing the statements recorded by three retired generals — former Minister for Railways Lt Gen (Retd) Javed Ashraf Qazi, former Chairman Railways Lt Gen (Retd) Saeedul Zafar and General Manager Railways Maj Gen (Retd) Hamid Hasan Butt, and two civilian officers — former Member Finance Pakistan Railways Khursheed Ahmad Khan and ex-GM Operations Pakistan Railways Iqbal Samad Khan — few days back, and it is likely that report based on their statements will be presented to the Executive Board of the NAB to take a final decision to send the case to the Accountability Court. “It is likely that once gets approval from the Executive Board, the reference would be sent to the court to initiate the criminal proceedings against all the accused,” said a senior official of the NAB.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in its meeting on September 13 had directed the National Accountability Bureau to initiate the criminal cases against all the accused in the mega multi-billion scam of Musharraf regime in which three former generals were allegedly involved.
During the Musharraf regime, Lt Gen (Retd) Javed Ashraf Qazi, Lt Gen (Retd) Saeedul Zafar and Maj Gen (Retd) Hamid Hassan Butt allegedly leased 103 acres of land for the period of 33 years that caused loss amounting to Rs9.6 billion to national exchequer.
Sources said there was allegation on top administration of Pakistan Railways which was involved in the scam had given fake tender notices for the land in the national newspapers.
The Railways administration illegally and unjustifiably included in the deal 41 acres of additional prime land and also enhanced lease period from 33 years to 49 years without re-tendering and obtaining consequential benefits in return.
During the PAC meeting that was held in September, this year, the NAB representatives who were in the probing team on the multi-billion scam, also admitted that there were clear malafide intentions in the agreement and it was not transparent.
It was already informed to the Public Accounts Committee that the original contracts between Pakistan Railways and management of the Royal Palm Golf Club were missing from the Railways Ministry’s record.
According to officials, the Railways administration during Musharraf regime illegally and unjustifiably provided 41 acres additional prime land by demolishing Railways residential colony to the lessee.
The bungalows were constructed during the period 1910 to 1963 and value of old structures worked out to Rs25.60 million, which was not recovered from the lessee and this was the nominal cost, whereas the replacement cost worked out to Rs240 million.
The officials said the Railways administration during Musharraf regime also illegally and unjustifiably included in the deal 41 acres of additional prime land and also enhanced lease period from 33 years to 49 years without any tendering.
While on one hand the criminal action was being taken against the three retired generals and two civilian officials but on the other, the NAB also renegotiated the deal with the current administration of the Royal Palm Golf Club and under the negotiated deal the management of the Royal Palm Golf Club will give 5 percent share to Pakistan Railways in membership fees and all the commercial deals.
Sources said the NAB has secured Rs7-8 billion (approx) by facilitating the parties to revisit the lease agreement in phase-I while in phase-II where an international level hotel has to be built by the party to the agreement, NAB has secured Rs5-6 billion (approx) for railways in the remaining lease period.
Sources said it was considered view in the NAB that cancellation of the agreement is not viable. “The NAB has facilitated for the revised agreement between Pakistan Railways and administration of Royal Palm Golf Club due to Rs16 billion benefit to Pakistan Railways,” sources said.
The NAB official said that under the negotiated deal the management of the Royal Palm Golf Club will give 5 percent share to Pakistan Railways in membership fees and all the commercial deals.