Former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has been discharged from multiple references from the National Office of National Responsibility (NAB) related to rental energy projects.
The Court of Responsibility in Islamabad, chaired by Judge Ali Warraich, announced the decision on Tuesday, cleaning Ashraf and several other cases linked to Sharaqpur, Bhakki and Karkey projects.
Karkey’s reference had alleged corruption worth RS22 billion, while the Turkish company Karkey Karadeniz Elektrik Uretim (KKEU) had also filed a claim of damages from RS200 billion.
The claim was resolved friendly after the intervention of the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
In Sheikhupura’s reference on Bhakki’s power project, valued at RS96 billion, the court announced the former president of Wapda and another six. Those named in the Sharaqpur energy reference were also eliminated.
This is not the first time that Ashraf has been exonerated in cases related to the rental power. In 2020, he was acquitted in the reference of the Pira Ghaib rental plant.
Rental energy projects began under the PPP government in 2008-09 to address the electricity deficit. However, several companies, including Karkey, did not comply with delivery commitments.
The Karkey contract, with a value of $ 564.6 million, required the supply of 231 megawatts to the Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco), but the project had a lower performance, incurring significant costs for Pakistan.
After the disputes, Karkey pursued arbitration at the International Center for Investment disputes (ICSID), which led to a prize against Pakistan.
The eventual resignation of the penalty followed the diplomatic negotiations between Pakistan and Türkiye.
