The Islamabad High Court (IHC) dismissed the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) Narowal Sports City corruption reference against federal minister Ahsan Iqbal.
In 2019, the anti-corruption watchdog arrested Iqbal and later, in 2020, an accountability court indicted him.
The watchdog alleged that the minister for planning, development, and special initiatives misused his authority to illegally enhance the scope of the project from Rs34.75 million to Rs2,994 million approximately.
NAB alleged the sports city project was conceived in line with the instruction of Iqbal without any feasibility in 1999. It was initially approved at a cost of Rs34.74 million by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP), which Iqbal headed.
However, Iqbal had always denied all the allegations levelled against him by the watchdog and also moved Islamabad’s court to have the reference against him dismissed.
During today’s hearing, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah asked NAB’s prosecutor whether the accountability watchdog had any evidence of corruption against Iqbal.
“[Development] on a project, which was being built for the people’s benefit was stopped. Tell me, who is responsible for stopping a project that was for the benefit of the people?”
The IHC CJ chided the NAB prosecutor as he was unable to provide evidence of corruption against Iqbal. Justice Minallah added that despite the project being of importance to the public, NAB intervened.
“I have asked you repeatedly to point out the corruption in this project,” the IHC CJ said.
In response, NAB’s lawyer said that Iqbal’s constituents of Narowal benefited from the project.
“So, is it a crime if the citizens benefit from it? Where is the crime? Where is the corruption?” Justice Minallah questioned.
Justice Minallah said that in line with NAB’s arguments, it seems that the accountability watchdog had ulterior motives while arresting the planning minister.
After hearing all the arguments, the IHC CJ dismissed the reference against Iqbal.
