PESHAWAR: Eighty-two percent acquittal rate in the accountability courts brings into question the performance of National Accountability Bureau in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In 2019 conviction rate is only 17.6 percent while acquittals are 82.4 percent. NAB’s overall conviction ratio is about 70 percent in Accountability Courts which is great achievement of NAB besides recovering Rs 342 billion. “The figures reveal that conviction rate remained very poor during 2019 because of disappointing performance displayed by IOS in general & prosecution department in particular, “one of the NAB officers told this scribe on condition of anonymity.
However, with KP NAB DG Brig (R) Farooq Naser Awan taking over the charge, it is believed that bureau’s performance will improve.
Another high-ranking NAB official told this correspondent that the bureau is monitoring the investigation and prosecution wings closely. The overall 70 percent conviction rate in NAB cases is a great achievement on our side, he said, adding KP NAB’s performance will improve after training of investigation officers and prosecutions divisions and induction of senior prosecutors. Moreover, NAB has also established witness-handling cells to pursue cases with full preparation based on solid evidence. NAB KP has contributed well in accumulation of overall performance of NAB, he maintained.
“NAB Chairman Justice Javed Iqbal (retd) had already issued very clear instructions to evaluate the performance of investigation and prosecution wing,” he added
According to data available with this correspondent, the NAB had filed 19 references in the accountability courts during this year. Only four cases were allowed, and the accused were partially convicted in these references. On the other hand, courts dismissed 14 cases and acquitted the accused.
A senior lawyer told this correspondent that conviction depends upon inquiry, solid evidence and prosecution. Courts reject weak cases, he added.
Data shows the KP NAB has filed 540 references since its inception in 2010. The courts convicted accused in 206 references, dismissed 124 references since its inception. Figures given below show new references, conviction and acquittal in new or ongoing cases:
According to official record during 2018, 29 new references were filed, accused in 15 were convicted while 22 were acquitted. Some 34 references were filed in 2017, but accused in four were convicted and six were acquitted. During 2016, 57 new references were filed, six were allowed and two were dismissed.
In 2015, 29 new references were filed, accused in 12 cases were convicted, there was one acquittal.
In 2014, 29 new references were submitted. No accused was penalized in that year, however three were acquitted. Four cases were filed in 2013 while two were acquitted by the accountability courts. In 2012, NAB filed 26 new references. Thirteen cases were decided in the favour of NAB and five against it. In 2011, 10 new references were file, accused in 18 cases were penalized, while 14 were acquitted.