Former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has been returned to several references from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) linked to rental projects.
The Islamabad court of responsibility, chaired by judge Ali Warraich, announced the decision on Tuesday, cleaning Ashraf and several others in cases related to Sharaqpur, Bhakki and Karkey projects.
Karkey’s reference had alleged corruption worth 22 billion rupees, while the Turkish company Karkey Karadeniz Elektrik Uretim (Kkeu) also made a complaint of 200 billion rupees.
The complaint was then resolved amicably following the intervention of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
In Sheikhupura’s reference concerning the Bhakki Power Project, valued at 96 billion rupees, the court released the former president of the WAPDA and six others. Those named in Sharaqpur’s energy reference have also been erased.
This is not the first time that Ashraf has been exempt in cases related to rental power. In 2020, he was acquitted in the reference of Pira Ghaib Rental Power Plant.
The rental electricity projects were launched as part of the PPP government in 2008-2009 to cope with the electricity deficit. However, several companies, including Karkey, have failed to respect the delivery commitments.
The Karkey contract, worth $ 564.6 million, required the supply of 231 megawatts to Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO), but the project has underperform, incurring significant costs for Pakistan.
Following disputes, Karkey continued his arbitration at the International Center for the settlement of investment disputes (CIRDI), which led to a sentence against Pakistan.
The possible renunciation of the sanction followed diplomatic negotiations between Pakistan and Turkey.
