NAB chief calls evidence against Pakistan PM Raja Pervez Ashraf weak; irks SC

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's anti-graft body NAB's chief on Thursday told the Supreme Court that the evidence in a corruption case involving Premier Raja Pervez Ashraf was weak and unlikely to lead to conviction, a statement that irked the top court which directed him to submit to it all records of the investigation.

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Fasih Bokhari's statement came two days after the apex court directed the anti-corruption agency to arrest the Prime Minister and more than 20 other suspects in connection with alleged graft in the rental power projects.

Appearing before a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, Bokhari said an investigation report on alleged corruption in rental power projects, submitted earlier to the apex court, was inaccurate.

Bokhari said the evidence gathered so far by NAB investigators was weak and that the allegation about the power projects causing losses to the national exchequer had not been proved.

The investigation officers had worked in a hurry and did not provide adequate proof in their reports, he said.

If a case is filed on the basis of the investigations done so far, the suspects will be acquitted, he added.

Bokhari's remarks angered the bench, which said the stand taken by the NAB did not reflect the reality.

The Chief Justice directed Bokhari and other NAB officials to submit all records of their investigation so far to the Supreme Court.

NAB Prosecutor K K Agha argued that the apex court could not see the agency's investigation records, but the bench maintained that the records should be submitted today.

NAB officials said the records were with an official in Rawalpindi and would be submitted to the Supreme Court's Registrar.