NAB Files Corruption Reference Against Yousaf Raza Gilani & ex-CEO of USF

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi has filed a corruption reference against former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, former Minister for Information Technology (IT) and former Chairman of Universal Services Fund (USF) over misuse of authority in illegal publicity campaign through M/s Midas Pvt Ltd and attempt to cause loss to national exchequer.

NAB has also filed references against Muhammad Saleem, former Principal Information Officer (PIO) PID, Farooq Awan, former Secretary Ministry of Information Technology, Riaz Asher Siddiqui, former Chief Executive Officer Universal Services Fund (USF), Inam Akbar CEO Midas, Syed Hasan Shikoh former Company Secretary USF and Muhammad Hanif former PA to PRO IT.

As per details, the accused Yousaf Raza Gillani (the then Prime Minister), Minister for Information Technology (IT) and as Chairman of Universal Services Fund (USF), directed to run a media campaign highlighting the achievements of Universal Services Fund (USF) in November 22011.

Farooq Awan, former Secretary Ministry of Information Technology misused his authority in awarding of illegal publicity campaign through M/S Midas Pvt Ltd against the rules.

Inam Akbar CEO M/s Midas violated the Press Information Department (PID) instructions and prescribed procedures regarding media campaigns and undertook the entire electronic media campaign without getting any written orders (Release Order) from Ministry of Information Technology or Universal Services Fund (USF) and served a bill for payment.

The media campaign launched by M/s Midas (Pvt) Ltd which was not on the panel of Universal Services Fund, neither before, nor afterwards. However, it was manipulated by the accused Riaz Asher Siddique, then-CEO USF to place it on the panel in connivance with the accused Muhammad Saleem, PIO and PID to legitimize the media campaign and to facilitate payment of Rs. 128 million.

There was no competition held to formally awarding the media campaign, which is totally against the PPRA rules and policy guidelines by M/o Information Broadcasting and Press Information Department (PID).

The accused persons, in connivance with each other, processed for an ex-post facto approval by the Board to legitimize the payment to M/s Midas (Pvt) Ltd and caused a loss to the tune of Rs. 128 Million. However, due to timely cognizance by NAB, illegal payment was stopped to M/s Midas. A reference has now been filed by NAB Rawalpindi before the Judge Accountability Court, Islamabad.