Ahsan Iqbal says the government has directed NAB to take action against those implicated in the Constitution One project following a joint investigation team report.
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has said the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has been directed to take action against individuals allegedly involved in the One Constitution Avenue project following the findings of a joint investigation team (JIT).
Speaking about the investigation, Ahsan Iqbal said the JIT report had been presented before the federal Cabinet and that the National Accountability Bureau had been instructed to proceed against those identified in the report.
He said the controversy surrounding the One Constitution Avenue project in Islamabad involved alleged fraud, adding that the government had initiated an investigation to examine the matter and identify those responsible.
According to the minister, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had previously established an inquiry committee to investigate the project. The committee’s proceedings were followed by a JIT investigation, whose findings were subsequently presented to the Cabinet.
Ahsan Iqbal specifically named former finance minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, describing him as the alleged mastermind behind the project-related matter.
The minister also said the company associated with Abdul Hafeez Sheikh had been blacklisted. However, the specific details and legal basis of the blacklisting were not provided in his statement.
The government’s stated position is that the findings of the investigation should form the basis for further action against those found responsible. Ahsan Iqbal said NAB had been instructed to pursue the matter in light of the JIT report.
The One Constitution Avenue project has faced scrutiny over administrative, financial and legal issues. Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif established a high-level committee to review the matter, followed by the formation of a JIT to investigate issues concerning the project.
About The Author
