PESHAWAR- The National Accountability Bureau NAB has issued a summons to Mr. Taimoor Saleem Jhagra, the former Minister of Health in KP, regarding a comprehensive inquiry into allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement related to the procurement of goods for combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
The investigations are conducted in accordance with the National Accountability Ordinance of 1999, as amended by the NAB Act of 2022. The summons, bearing the signature of Muhammad Dawood Khan, Additional Director (Staff) for the Director General of NAB KP, mandates Mr. Jhagra’s appearance before the Combined Investigation Team-III (CIT-III) on the October 31, 2023, at 10:00 hours.
The meeting is scheduled to convene at the NAB KP offices, situated in Block-III, PDA Complex, Phase-V, Hayatabad, Peshawar. The questionnaire accompanying this notice seeks detailed explanations concerning various facets of the procurement process during the critical COVID-19 period.
Prominent among the inquiries are the number of Cabinet sub-committee meetings held, the handling of exemption clauses, the appointment of the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) as a member of the procurement committee, and the apparent absence of proper importation documentation for items essential in the fight against COVID-19. It is imperative to note that failure to comply with this summons may result in legal action under the National Accountability Ordinance of 1999.
This development is emblematic of the ongoing commitment of the NAB to investigate allegations of financial impropriety and the misuse of public funds, particularly within the framework of the COVID-19 response.
The former Health Minister has been called upon to provide vital information and evidence pertinent to the case, and further developments will be closely scrutinized.
