NAB summons PTI’s Azam Swati in Kohistan mega scandal probe

PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has summoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf senior leader and former senator Azam Swati in connection with the ongoing inquiry into the Kohistan mega scandal.

According to sources, a call-up notice was issued to Azam Swati on June 17 at his residential address.

The notice stated that NAB’s Combined Investigation Team (CIT) is probing allegations of illegal withdrawals and embezzlement of public funds from the District Accounts Office in Kohistan, allegedly involving its officers and staff.

During the course of the inquiry, the NAB notice said, it transpired that Azam Swati has important records relevant to the case, which could play a key role in the outcome of the investigation.

The NAB notice directed Swati to appear before the Combined Investigation Team on June 23 and bring along relevant account records, specifically concerning payments received in 2024 from a private firm into his account.

The NAB further warned the former senator that failure to comply with the notice would result in action against him under the NAB Ordinance.

 After the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee took notice of the Kohistan mega scandal and NAB launched its investigation, and the provincial cabinet formed a high-level committee under Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to look into the matter. However, the committee has yet to convene.

Last month, NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa uncovered the Kohistan mega scandal.

During a Public Accounts Committee meeting, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati revealed that NAB has already recovered over Rs20 billion in the Rs40 billion corruption case.

The NAB KP has already frozen a total of 36 luxury vehicles and properties of the accused.

The anti-corruption watchdog has so far seized seven luxury vehicles in connection with the Kohistan mega scandal. These included a Toyota Land Cruiser, a Kia Jeep, a Toyota Fortuner, and a Honda Civic.

The NAB has also frozen 29 properties of in Islamabad’s most expensive areas allegedly owned by individuals involved in the corruption. These include commercial plazas, residential houses, flats, and markets.