Accountability Court Quetta on Tuesday remanded former chairman Balochistan Development Authority and former security and government affairs officer Tethyan Copper Company into NAB custody in billions of dollars Reko diq scam.
Former chairman BDA and former TCC officer were arrested from Islamabad four days back. After taking transit remand from Islamabad court, the accused were produced before Accountability Court Quetta judge Munawar Shahwani wherein the judge approved NAB plea for 15 days remand.
It may be mentioned here that National Accountability Bureau Balochistan has filed reference against 26 accused including the former officers of Balochistan government and international companies in Reko Diq case. The accused in connivance with each other caused billions of rupee loss to the national exchequer.
In 1993, the Chaghi Hills Exploration Joint Venture Agreement was signed between the Balochistan Development Authority and an Australian company called Broken Hills Proprietary, in which the Australian company was illegally benefited by corrupt officials, especially of Balochistan Development Authority.
The Balochistan Mining Concession Rules were not only illegally amended to further strengthen the terms of this agreement, which was in conflict with the national interest, but also by repeatedly entering into illegal sub-agreements and introducing a new company called Tethyan Copper Company (TCC), more financial benefits were obtained.
In addition, there were serious irregularities in the allotment of land and other matters by the officials of the Revenue Department and the accused also confessed of taking financial benefits in this regard. Examination of records and statements of witnesses revealed eye-opening facts that TCC operatives were found to be involved in bribing government employees and illegally gaining interests.
An investigation team headed by DG NAB Operations and DG NAB Balochistan has been working on the most complex case in the history of NAB and the biggest case in terms of volume of corruption.
