PESHAWAR: The Court has handed a key contractor in the illegal mining scandal to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for another three-day physical remand.
Contractor Zargul Khan, arrested in connection with an illegal mining scandal, was re-presented before the court on Tuesday.
During the hearing, Senior Prosecutor NAB Habibullah Baig and Investigation Officer SP Inayatullah appeared before the Accountability Court. Accountability Judge Hamid Mughal accepted the prosecution’s request and handed over the accused to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on a further three-day physical remand.
The NAB prosecutor informed the court that Zargul Khan is a contractor and the main accused in the case. He allegedly, along with other accomplices, carried out illegal mining in the forests of Kakul. According to NAB, the accused extracted 141,869 metric tons of phosphate between 2010 and July 2025, causing a loss of Rs 643.700 million to the national exchequer.
The prosecution further stated that evidence of money laundering has also been found during the investigation. Eight plots at different locations in Abbottabad and three valuable vehicles are registered in the name of the accused. NAB told the court that action is being taken against Zargul Khan under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010.
It was also revealed that during the course of the investigation, the accused made further disclosures, leading to the discovery of an additional 12-marla plot and two more bank accounts in his name.
Investigation Officer SP Inayatullah requested the court to extend the physical remand, stating that further interrogation of the accused was necessary. Accepting the request, the court granted NAB another three-day physical remand of the accused.
