The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday made the historical recovery by conducting an inquiry into fake accounts case where Abdul Ghani Majeed and seven others made a plea bargain of Rs10.6 billion.
The accused were facing a case related to the expropriation of land owned by the government of Sindh and the Pakistan Steel Mills. Accused assured to return Rs10.66 billion while also returning 266.175 acres of land to Sindh government and steel mills through NAB.
Accused involved, Abdul Ghani who surrendered 37.5 acres of industrial land and also expressed willingness to deposit over Rs2bn under a plea bargain. Likewise, Mohammad Touseef surrendered 37.5 acres of industrial land and Rs2.09bn, Amir (40 acres and Rs2.2bn), Siraj Shahid (50 acres and Rs2.78bn, Hammad Shahid (34.2 acres of residential land and Rs497 million), Tariq Baig (34 acres residential land and Rs491m), Mohammad Iqbal (33 acres of residential land and Rs476m).
The seven were among 172 people whose names were mentioned in a report which the Federal Investigation Agency forwarded before the Supreme Court during the hearing of the fake bank accounts case.
Former president Asif Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur are behind bars in sharing rich connections with the case since the dismissal of their pre-arrest bail by the Islamabad High Court on June 10.
According to the NAB, one of the 28 inquiries in the fake accounts case is under progress in Sindh government and steel mills lands case. Seven NAB detainees requested for a plea bargain which was approved.
Earlier, the Accountability watchdog has recovered Rs 2.12 billion in the fake accounts case against Former President Asif Ali Zardari, in Nooriabad Power Company and Sindh transmission funds corruption cases as the plea bargain request of officers of both companies, Asif Mehmood and Arif has been accepted.
The final petition for plea bargain will be submitted in the accountability court. The suspects, along with the Sindh officials were involved in corruption through fake auctions, the NAB said.