By Our Correspondent
ISLAMABAD: A Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) court in Lahore ordered immediate release of Saeed Ahmed Nawaz, a Member of the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) and former managing director of the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO), who was earlier arrested by the agency’s anti-corruption circle in connection with the wheat scam.
The court also directed the FIA to discharge Mr Nawaz from the case as there was no evidence linking him to the alleged offences.
The FIA Anti-Corruption Circle had previously filed a case involving major irregularities in the sale of PASSCO wheat, which led to the arrest of seven suspects, including Nawaz, GM Commercial Shahid Ibrahim, GM Commercial Imran Nazir, Zonal Head Iftikhar Uddin, Buyer Muhammad Saeed, and Nasir Ali.
Last month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the Establishment Division secretary to take strict disciplinary and criminal action against officials allegedly involved in the mismanagement of wheat during the 2022 floods and the unauthorized relaxation of tender conditions. The case of Mr Nawaz, now a CCP member, was also to be reviewed under the relevant regulations.
These directives were issued during a meeting on July 24 to assess the progress of previous orders based on recommendations from the Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission (PMIC) regarding wheat damage at PASSCO.
The Prime Minister’s Office, noting delays in the implementation of these orders, issued a letter outlining specific responsibilities and deadlines and instructing that all ongoing inquiries, investigations, and criminal proceedings related to wheat procurement irregularities be concluded within a week.
The FIA director general, IB Division DG, and National Food Security head were tasked with ensuring compliance.
The PM has assigned the PIMC chairman to investigate allegations of wheat theft disguised as flood damage. The PMIC has recommended referring two former PASSCO managing directors to NAB or FIA for their inefficiency and corruption, which resulted in significant financial losses.
The PM office has approved the PMIC’s recommendations and ordered Establishment Secretary Inamullah Khan Dharejo to prepare a charge sheet in coordination with the National Food Security secretary and the PMIC chairman.
The Ministry of National Food Security supports the recommended reforms for PASSCO, which include reconstituting its Board and appointing a new MD.
