NAB sees cases not faces: chairman

ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (R) Javed Iqbal said that the NAB has adopted the policy of seeing cases not faces.

He said that NAB believed in across the board accountability as part of ‘Accountability of All’ policy.

“The NAB is committed to nab the corrupt, proclaimed offenders and absconders with an iron hand,” he said while addressing a meeting at NAB headquarters on Monday.

The NAB chairman said the whole nation has pinned hopes on NAB for eradication of corruption from the country. “The NAB along with all stakeholders will come up to the expectations of the nation,” he said. He said that the indiscriminate actions of NAB has increased its prestige and image manifold due to NAB’s visible action against the mighty.

He said that NAB has rejuvenated to eradicate corruption at all costs. “All DGs of NAB have been directed not to spare any corrupt, dragging them in the dock,” he added. The NAB chairman directed all ranks of NAB staff to work hard, transparently and on merit. He said that NAB is Pakistan’s apex anti-corruption organization as the Present management of NAB after assuming the responsibility had chalked out an effective and comprehensive National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) for eradication of corruption and corrupt practices from Pakistan.

“The NAB’s National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) for eradication of corruption has been acknowledged by national and international organisations like Transparency International, Pildat and World Economic Forum which is pride for Pakistan due to NAB efforts,” he said.

He said that the year 2017 was the year of rejuvenation of NAB in order to inquire/investigate corruption cases on merit without any fear and favour. He said that NAB has rationalised its workload and timelines have been prescribed for efficient, effective and expeditious disposal of cases putting a maximum limit of 10 months. In order to ensure uniformity and standardisation, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for investigation officers (IOs) in vogue were reviewed and revised after a gap of 10 years in order to benefit from the experience and collective wisdom of senior supervisory officers, a system of CIT comprising Director, Additional Director, Investigation Officer and a Senior Legal Counsel has been put in place.

This has not only been lending quality to the work but also ensuring that no single individual can influence the official proceedings of NAB. He said that he implementation of enforcement measures and prosecution matters are being monitored in NAB through daily, weekly and monthly reports and inspections. He said that NAB is committed with the realisation that eradication of corruption by adopting “Accountability for All” policy. He said that NAB’s sun is shining across the country as its performance is considered as record achievement with overall convictions of 77 percent.