‘Eradication of corruption top priority of NAB’

ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (R) Javed Iqbal said that eradication of corruption was the top most priority of NAB and it would continue its endeavours to eradicate corruption from country by adopting "Accountability for All" policy against the corrupt and would bring them to justice as per law by using all its resources within stipulated time frame from complaints to filing of corruption references in the respective accountability courts.

“The NAB is geared up to come up to the expectations of the nation to eradicate corruption and has perfected its procedures," NAB chairman said in a statement issued on Saturday. Due to this reason, he said, the conviction ratio of NAB has reached approximately 77 percent which would be improved by ensuring transparency, merit, presenting sufficient evidence and flawless investigations to conclude mega and white collar cases according to their logical end as per law.

"With effective efforts corrupt would be brought to justice and looted money of innocent people in various cases would be recovered and would be deposited in national exchequer, "he said.

The NAB chairman said the cases of private housing societies, cooperative societies which are under process in NAB would be completed as per law as government servants, pensioners have been deprived of their life earnings despite receiving money and are deeply perturbed due to this fraud with them. He directed all DGs of NAB to complete all cases as per law.

He directed NAB officers to perform their duties with honesty, in accordance with law and without caring for any one. "The NAB officers should present concrete evidence in courts, arguments in relevant courts, so that the corrupt could be punished and hard earned looted money of people could be recovered from corrupt and deposited in the national exchequer," he said.

Giving six months performance of NAB, Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal said that NAB had filed 197 corruption references in respected accountability courts after assumption of his responsibilities as NAB chairman in six months which was a record achievement as investigation of mega and white collar crimes is very difficult and it takes years by years but when your aim, mission and vision will be clear, then everything is possible.

"The NAB during six months has arrested 226 accused persons in different cases, 55 complaint verification, 39 inquiries and 33 investigations have been authorised whereas 27 accused persons have been convicted by the respected accountability courts due to proactive and vigorous approach of NAB to bring the corrupt to justice as per law," he said.