QUETTA: The National Accountability Bureau in Balochistan has widened the scope of its investigation into a corruption case and included some members of the cabinet of former chief minister Nawab Aslam Raisani.

Sources in NAB said here on Sunday that the bureau had started investigation against five more former ministers for their alleged involvement in embezzlement of government funds and other irregularities, including illegal recruitments in different departments.

“Sixteen former ministers of the Balochistan coalition government are under investigation,” the sources said, adding that records of the ministers’ offices had been taken into custody. Arrests would be made after completing the investigation and getting permission from the NAB chairman, they said.

NAB’s regional director Major (retd) Burhan Ali had said two months ago that investigation was under way against six ministers on charges of embezzlement of development funds and other irregularities. The provincial cabinet had taken serious notice of the statement and termed the investigation a conspiracy against the elected government.

The sources said the investigation had been launched after collecting enough evidences against the former ministers. They include the ministers for communications, health, education, finance, food, excise and taxation, Balochistan Development Authority, industry, revenue, Zakat and agriculture.