ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday formed a combined investigation team (CIT) to investigate the recent sugar scam in the country, specifically sugar subsidy given to mill owners on export.

A source told Dawn that the NAB headquarters referred the case of sugar subsidy to the bureau’s Rawalpindi office after the former received a letter from the federal government on Tuesday, urging that it should investigate the matter.

Under the action matrix, different departments have been given tasks to investigate the scam through different angles and aspects.

Following the NAB headquarters’ decision, the bureau’s Rawalpindi office held a meeting on Tuesday and formed CIT headed by Director General of NAB Rawalpindi Irfan Mangi.

Mr Mangi was one of the members of the Supreme Court-formed joint investigation team (JIT) which launched probe into the famous Panama Leaks case against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. He is also the head of the fake accounts case being investigated against top leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), including former president Asif Ali Zardari.

Sources said that the CIT would seek record from all relevant departments regarding export subsidy on sugar. The investigation team will also summon owners of sugar mills for questioning.

On July 28, the federal government directed relevant authorities to launch a massive crackdown against sugar barons and submit their reports in 90 days.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Mirza Shahzad Akbar after seeking consent of PM Khan wrote separate letters to the State Bank of Pakistan, Competition Commission of Pakistan and the chief secretaries of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, asking them to launch a crackdown on the sugar mafia in the light of the forensic audit report.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2020