NAB moved against Lt Gen Touqir Zia former Chairman Cricket Board

Islamabad April 7, 2005: Pakistan Peoples Party has asked the National Accountability Bureau to move a reference against Lt. Gen. (Retd) Touqir Zia, Ex-Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board for taking home an expensive official car at less then half of its original price in violation of government policy.

Citing recent press reports the PPP complaint said that the ex Chairman had himself framed policy for the transfer of official vehicles to Board officials including himself in July 2003 to justify the transfer of the latest model official vehicles.

"The policy notification issued by the former Chairman was in violation of the Government procedure for disposing of the vehicles that are sold through an open auction", the PPP complaint said.

Three other senior officials of PCB dealing with Treasury, Logistics and finance also benefited from this policy, it said.

Besides Lt General Touqir Zia others named in the complaint are two General Managers of the Board, G.M (Finance) and G. M (Logistics).

The complaint says that the respondent 'fall within the ambit of NAB Ordinance 1999 for the purpose of investigation trial and punishment' under Section 10 of NAB Ordinance for 'causing a financial loss to the national exchequer by corruption and corrupt practice'.

In June 2000 the PCB purchased a Honda City car for Rs. 750,000. Three years later in 2003 Touqir Zia paid only Rs.339,940/- and transferred the car bearing registration number LXR 1983 in his name before leaving the office of Chairman PCB.

"Instead of disposing of vehicle through an open auction as per Government policy in public sector institutions the vehicle price was shown to be depreciated by Rs.410,160/- and was transferred to Touqir Zia retired Lt. Gen", it said.

"The respondents have shown willful indulgence in corrupt practices under Section 9 of the Ordinance and are subject to punishment under Section 10 of the Ordinance".

"As such the Chairman of the NAB is called upon to initiate investigation and further proceed to file a reference against respondents in the competent court of law and proceed against them".