close
Tuesday March 19, 2024

Saira urges NAB to complete fact-finding probe against her within 15 days

By Shahina Maqbool
February 22, 2018

Islamabad: “Saddened and disappointed” by the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) decision to initiate a fact-finding probe to establish corruption charges against her, Minister for Health Saira Afzal Wednesday dismissed having played any role whatsoever in processes associated with accreditation of medical and dental colleges, and urged NAB to complete its inquiry within 15 days so that she can return to her electorate with a clean chit ahead of the general elections.

Addressing a press conference at the Press Information Department, Saira termed NAB’s decision as a direct attack on her credibility and political stature, and alleged that the lower staff of the anti-graft organization accepts bribes to have inquiries initiated against honest officials.

“With elections only three months away, NAB has chosen a critical time to undermine my credibility. My conscience is clear, yet I am deeply saddened by the fact that at no point did NAB feel the need to ascertain my role in the accreditation of medical colleges before its Executive Board accorded approval for initiation of inquiry against me,” Saira stated. She propounded the view that being a minister and a public representative, it was her basic right to have been heard before any such decision was taken.

Saira said she has no qualms about presenting herself for accountability, and has already collated all relevant records for NAB’s perusal. “However, the manner in which this news has been released to the media is highly disappointing.”

Saira claimed having no inkling about the identity of the person on whose complaint the said inquiry has been initiated against her and the President of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC). “The recognition of medical and dental colleges is the exclusive domain of PM&DC. It is regrettable that my name has been clubbed with the President of PM&DC in a matter where I have no authority or role,” she added.

Saira said, the NAB inquiry is synonymous to being held accountable to the very mafias against which she has mounted a struggle during the last five years. “When you stand against spurious drug mafias, they are bound to react,” she observed.

Saira said, her family has been in politics for the last 100 years and is known for its impeccable credentials. “In my decade-long political career, I have always upheld merit, fair-play and transparency. It is sad that even though you work day and night and are not involved in any corruption, yet your own institutions hold you accountable. Rather than spreading fear, NAB should focus on performing its duties. I have always believed in strengthening of institutions by according utmost cooperation to them as per law and policy,” she maintained.

The minister informed that she was writing a letter to the Chairman of NAB, both to expressing shock and disappointment over the mention of her name in a NAB press release, and to request for conclusion of any fact-finding by NAB within 15 days so that it does not affect her campaign for the upcoming elections which she intends to contest.