Officer involved in probe against Pakistan PM found dead

An assistant director in the National Accountably Bureau (NAB), Faisal was assisting investigation officer Asgahr Khan in a mega corruption scandal allegedly involving Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf.

Faisal was among two officials who had been suspended for recommending to Director General of NAB Rawalpindi that he should submit references against the accused in the two RPP cases to the NAB's head office, Dawn News quoted a bureau official having told the Supreme Court last week.

Hailing from country's Punjab province, he had been under strain for being part of the Rental Power case, NAB sources said.

Police said the officer was living in federal lodges and allegedly committed suicide. However, the investigation was underway.

During Thursday's hearing, NAB Chairman Fasih Bukhari told the Supreme Court that the investigation report submitted to the court in the Rental Power Projects (RPP) case was inaccurate.

He said investigation officers had worked in a hurry and did not provide proof in their report.

Criticising the NAB for changing its stance, Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhamamd Chaudhry said the court could itself monitor the case and ordered the NAB to submit its complete case file.

The apex court in its earlier verdict in last March had observed that the rules and regulations were violated in these projects due to which the national exchequer witnessed losses of billions.

On March 30, a two-member Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Chaudhry had observed that the policy of the rental power projects was not defined on a transparent basis. Rather than overcoming circular debt, the authorities endorsed more contracts.

Justice Chaudhry then directed that legal proceedings be carried out against Ashraf and then secretary finance for water and power. It also said that all rental power projects should be dissolved.