Peshawar:
Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) Senior Leader Senator Azam Swati could not appear for the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with the RS40 billion Kohistan Mega Corruption Scandal, despite being served. Instead, his legal adviser appeared on his behalf.
According to Nab sources, Swati’s lawyer was instructed that the senator should be shown personally. The lawyer requested a week’s extension, but Nab refused the request and instructed Swati to appear without delay. Another message will soon be issued, NAB.
The first announcement required Azam Swati to appear on Monday as part of a study of suspicious financial transactions linked to Kohistan corruption case. Nab claims that RS300 million was transferred to Azam Swati’s personal bank account, raising serious concerns about financial irregularities.
Nab is investigating Kohistan scandal after revelations of widespread corruption of RS40 billion. The Bureau has ordered Swati to submit the financial records of Kohistan Associates and Builders, including detailed bank account information.
It is worth noting that billions of rupees were reportedly deposited in the company’s accounts during the year 2024. The scandal emerged earlier this year, which caused the provincial government to formally request a NAB investigation. Subsequently, a cabinet level investigation committee, led by the Minister of Chief, was also formed to oversee the case.
It can be mentioned here that last month the KP government began a survey of the mega corruption scandal in Kohistan’s district, where estimated RS40 billion has allegedly been dismissed from the provincial treasury.
The scandal came under intense control during a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chairman of the Speaker of KP assembly, Babar Saleem Swati.
Officials from the Finance Department and the auditor’s general office admitted during the session that billions had been abused from public funds.
While an official underscore of RS24 billion has been confirmed so far, PAC members expressed dissatisfaction with the explanations of secretarial financing and the Auditor General.
