Phosphate license scandal:Court acquits ex-minister along with 13 others

Humayun Khan

PESHAWAR: Accountability Court Peshawar acquitted former Minister for Industries and Minerals Nawabzada Mahmood Zeb and former secretary Technical Education Shah Wali Khan in case regarding illegal use of power issuance of license for search of Phosphate along with 12 other accused in the license scandal, on Wednesday.

Accountability Court Peshawar Judge Naveed Khan has issued detail judgment stating that National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has placed allegation against former Minister Nawabzada Mahmood Zeb, former secretary technical education Shah Wali Khan, special secretary Asmatullah, section officer Farhad Ali, deputy director Khan Badshah, senior geologist Nowroz Khan, senior inspector Ziarat Khan, director Shakirullah, Assistant Director Pervaiz Khan, Asmat-ul-Mulk, Salim Shah and Javeed Iqbal had obtained license for 498 acres in Abbottabad for search of Phosphate on Rs.14980 which violated mining rules 2005 and caused huge loss to public treasure.

NAB has completed inquiry and initiated reference against the respondents in 2016 but counsel for petitioners argued that NAB has failed to established evidence against applicants during investigation and produce before court.

Counsel for former Minister Barrister Mudassir Emir and Barrister Yasin Raza represented former secretary before court while argued that National Accountability Bureau (NAB) did not completed investigation and reference is full of contradictions.

Moreover, one accused Javeed Iqbal was dead during trail of the reference while one defendant did not arrested by authorities and remaining respondents were released on bail in the case.