Web Desk: Pakistan’s top anti-corruption body National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has approved a major plea bargain in the multibillion-rupee Kohistan financial scandal, marking a significant development in one of the country’s largest corruption cases.
According to sources, the chairman NAB Lt Gen (R) Nazir Ahmed has accepted a plea bargain request submitted by Mumtaz, a key suspect currently in NAB custody. The decision clears the way for the recovery of billions of rupees misappropriated in the scandal.
Under the plea bargain, Mumtaz has agreed to return 4.05 billion rupees ($14.6 million) to the national exchequer. However, the recovery will take effect after formal approval from the accountability court, the sources added.
Investigators say Mumtaz acted as a front man for Qaiser Iqbal, an official of the Communications and Works (C&W) Department. Authorities believe the arrangement helped conceal the flow of funds linked to fraudulent payments.
Once the court endorses the plea bargain, NAB will initiate the process to deposit the recovered amount into the government treasury.
Meanwhile, investigators continue to probe the wider Kohistan financial scandal, which allegedly involves the release of nearly 38 billion rupees to benami account holders and contractors through the C&W Department.
Further legal action remains underway as NAB examines the roles of other suspects and public officials connected to the case.
The Kohistan scandal has drawn nationwide attention due to its scale and the alleged misuse of public funds earmarked for development projects.
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