Abdul Hakeem Mohmand
PESHAWAR
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday summoned former commissioner of Afghan Refugees and brother of JUI-F chief, Zia Ur Rehman, over alleged graft charges and accumulation of assets beyond known income sources.
Rehman was asked to appear before the NAB’s Combined Investigation Team (CIT) on August 25 at the bureau’s office in Peshawar.
The anti-corruption watchdog, NAB, had initiated inquiry against Rehman for his alleged involvement in corruption and corrupt practices concerning funds under various heads, procurement of machinery/equipments, illegal appointment/induction and promotion of the accused and accumulation of assets by him beyond his known sources of income. “The subject inquiry has revealed that you (Zia ur Rehman) are in possession of information/evidence which relates to the commission of the said offence,”read the notice issued by the bureau.
“The competent authority has taken the cognizance of an offence committed by the accused and others under the provisions of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999,” the letter said.
The anti-graft body warned the accused that if he failed to comply with the notice of appearance, it may entail penal consequences for him.
Rehman has recently been in limelight of media following his appointment as deputy commissioner in the port city of Karachi.
Last month, he took charge as deputy commissioner of Karachi’s central district after his service was relieved in KP, a move that drew strong reaction from the ranks of PTI and MQM-P. His appointment on a lucrative position was seen by critics and political opponents as PPP’s move to pacify the JUI-chief. Critics also said that Rehman being a brother of the Maulana had been posted on positions of his choice during the tenure of previous governments.
As per rules, an officer of provincial management service (PMS) cannot be posted in another province unless the concerned official has a genuine reason to justify his or her case. After much hue and cry over his appointment in Karachi, the KP government was compelled to call him back.
Zia Ur Rehman initially was an assistant divisional engineer at the PTCL till September 07, 2012. To dismay of civil servants who came through competitive exams, the then coalition government of ANP and PPP had inducted Rehman along with ANP chief Asfandyar Wali’s son-in-law, Dr Nauman Mujahid, into the superior provincial service. In his career, Rehman, despite being a grade-18 officer, had served on positions of grade 19 and 20.
