DHA scam: Brigadier (Rtd) Amjad Kayani questioned by NAB
Brigadier (Rtd) Amjad Kayani appeared before NAB for the alleged Rs500 million DHA scam.
Dunya News Report (Yaruq Malik)
ISLAMABAD: Retired Brigadier Amjad Kayani appeared before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday for the alleged Rs500 million Defense Housing Authority (DHA) scam. Rtd Brigadier Amjad Kayani is the brother of the former Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and was called in by NAB officials to provide details regarding the alleged DHA scam.
The retired Brigadier chose to remain silent about the actual discussion that took place with the NAB officials and declared the information ‘sensitive’. He further added that he alongside his brothers will always be available if NAB calls again.
“I visited NAB today to give some details and information required by the bureau. I cannot share with the media at the moment the details of my meeting because of the sensitivity of the case. We will also always remain available to any departmental scrutiny of any of our engagements with the Army during or after the active service, without slightest of hesitation.” said Brigadier Amjad.
Previously, two retired military officers were arrested with a civilian by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for allegedly being a part of the DHA Islamabad farmhouse scam amounting to Rs500 million.
A press release issued by NAB earlier reported that the ex-administrator of DHA, Brigadier (retd) Javed Iqbal and ex-director project DHA, Colonel (retd) Sabahat Qadeer Butt were arrested for misusing their authority by selling illegal allotment certificates of DHA Islamabad. The retired military officers are also accused of breaching agreements between DHA and Elysium Holdings Pakistan Ltd.
According to the NAB report, Waseem Aslam, who was the Chief Executive Officer of Elysium Holdings, is accused of causing a loss of Rs500 million to DHA and for the illegal selling of non-saleable certificates without paying the landowners. NAB arrested Javed Iqbal and Sabahat Qadeer Butt from Rawalpindi while Waseem Aslam was arrested from Lahore.
Interestingly, Elysium Holdings is owned by Kamran Kayani who is the younger brother of former army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani. Kamran Kayani is also facing corruption charges in the Rs16 billion DHA City (Lahore) scam. According to reports, Kamran Kayani is living abroad these days.
Elysium Holdings is under NAB inquiry since April, 2015 for the alleged sale of allotment certificates for the DHA Islamabad farmhouse project fraud which is estimated at Rs500 million. Elysium Holdings is also accused of helping Globaco (Pvt) Ltd to acquire the DHA City project in Lahore. Hammad Arshad, the owner of Globaco (Pvt) Ltd, is already under arrest on charges of corruption and cheating.
Brigadier Amjad Pervez Kayani said that General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani has nothing to do with the business and actions of his brothers.
After facing criticism and a possible shutdown from Justice Amir Hani Muslim, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is striking hard against corruption cases across the country.
A few days earlier, Justice Amir Hani Muslim questioned the recent hiring made by NAB and asked for the total number of people who are working at senior positions in the bureau for accountability. Justice Amir criticized the NAB for misusing the ‘plea bargain act’ and questioned the Chairman NAB for the credibility of the act used by the institution as a process of consolidation in major corruption cases.
Moreover, Justice Amir added that if cases under NAB continue in the same manner, then NAB should be shut down immediately.
“If this is how NAB works, it must be shut down,” said Justice Amir.
