ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s outburst at the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was triggered by the initiation of investigation into the Lahore metro bus project despite the fact that it was cleared by the anti-graft agency a couple of years ago.
“We ourselves had furnished all the documents pertaining to the project to the NAB, which, after a thorough scrutiny, had given a clean chit,” a main point man of the chief minister told The News when approached to know the background that led him to publicly take on the organization.
Not only had the NAB described the project as free of any financial bungling, but the Transparency International Pakistan had also audited and cleared it, he said on condition of anonymity.
“While the chief minister always keeps the officers attached with mega projects on their toes to ensure that the job is completed at a fast track, on the given time, the reports, which keep appearing every now and then that the NAB has launched a probe in a certain major project, demoralizes the officials from working at the desired level,” he said.
Resultantly, the source said, the officers, who are already reluctant to sign the official papers fearing that they would be dragged by the NAB for the crimes they have not committed, stop quick disposal of the official work. Because of this attitude, the progress on mega projects is adversely affected.
He said that the NAB reports, emerging amid universal acclaims showered by local and foreign elements about the transparency and corruption-free administration of Shahbaz Sharif, were always disturbing for the chief minister, which peeved him to speak about the outfit.
Asked to explain Shahbaz Sharif’s threat to mention certain facts that would make the NAB to sweat, the source said that the agency has with it several corruption cases involving billions of rupees pending for many years but it has been unable to make any substantial progress in them. “Those who actually plundered need to be subjected to ruthless accountability instead of harassing those whose track record is evident to all and sundry.”
The source said what kind of message goes to the officialdom and people abroad when the NAB frequently says it is conducting probes against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif into the ‘mega scandals’ relating to the construction of Rs125 million Raiwind Road and the ‘illegal’ recruitments made in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) 15 years ago. These cases should either have been finalized and references filed in courts if they had some meat or consigned to the dustbin long time ago, he said.
He said when the NAB under Pervez Musharraf failed to pinpoint any unlawfulness in these cases although it had then completely scrutinized them, what will it discover in them now. He said that the government has no doubt that these investigations had been kept pending with ulterior motives.
The chief minister said on Friday that the NAB itself was liable to accountability. “There are some facts about the NAB, which if talked about would place it in an awkward position and make it sweat. We have never stopped the NAB from accountability or any action in Punjab. I am ready to face any punishment, if corruption of even a penny is proved against me. The NAB had carried out probe into many matters – including Lahore Development Authority City – which proved to be transparent.”
Precisely 17 days back, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reacted more sharply when he warned the NAB to stay “within limits” and stop threatening and harassing government employees or legal recourse will be taken against it. “The NAB must perform its duties responsibly. Its officials barge into houses and offices of innocent people and harass them without looking into the authenticity of cases. They dishonour innocent people, cause hindrances and terrify government officials. I have brought this issue to the NAB chairman’s notice. He must take corrective measures or the government will initiate necessary legal action.”
He went public with his anger with the NAB after some prominent industrialists had complained to him that they were being harassed by the agency while he urges them to make maximum investment in Pakistan. They had told him that if this practice continued they would not be able to work in a free environment.
It now appears that Punjab Minister Rana Mashhood, facing a NAB investigation, who has off and on scoffed at the agency, has been berating it after approval of his remarks by Shahbaz Sharif. He said the other day that he will now give a surprise to the NAB. He did not elaborate.
When the chief minister was recently asked about the NAB inquiry against Rana Mashhood, he said he would not take a minute to show him the door if any corruption was proved against him.
The denunciation of the NAB by the Sharif brothers and Rana Mashhood apart, their detractors claim that they started protesting after the anti-graft outfit diverted its attention to Punjab.