SC rejects report on NAB performance

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) Thursday rejected the report pertaining to 15-year performance of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and directed its chairman to submit a comprehensive report by April 20 over the mode of investigation and complete framework as well as Standing Operative Procedures (SOPs).
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja resumed hearing into various applications against the NAB officials.In pursuance of the court’s earlier order, NAB chairman appeared before the court and submitted a 2500-page report over the 15-year performance of the bureau. The court, however, rejected the report ruling that there was some vagueness in the report.
The court observed in its order that on last hearing it had expressed concerns over the mode of work of the anti-graft body and termed its reports unsatisfactory.The court had repeatedly directed the anti-graft body to submit comprehensive report pertaining to the pending inquiries, investigation and references filed against the NAB officials involved in misconduct however, the officials including NAB prosecutor general had so far failed to comply with the court orders.
The court observed that despite assurance of the anti-graft body, its repeated orders were not complied with in letter and spirit.“All we see from NAB assurances and apologies but we are not interested in assurance and apologies and we are interested in practical work”, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja noted down in the order.
The court ruled that it had sought data on the 12 items but the NAB failed to provide the required information adding that there was no monitoring in the NAB as the statistics given by the NAB in 2500-page report was not clear.
NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry while appearing before the court confirmed that there was no monitoring and evaluation system in the NAB.
The court observed that without such a framework, it was obvious that the required data, monitoring and evaluation could not be made possible as there was no monitoring expert to ensure quantitative data analysis.
NAB chairman, however, assured the court that such shortcomings be rectified in some time.Earlier, during the course of hearing Justice Jawwad S Khawaja observed that the court wanted accountability within the NAB. He further observed that nation believed that eradication of corruption was the only way for country’s progress.
Referring to the report, submitted by the NAB, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja observed that as per report the volume of complaints in 2010 remained 2,681 but when they saw the graphics, the complaints were 6,931.
“It seems the anti-graft body is concealing something from us”, Justice Khawaja remarked. NAB chairman told the court that they had established divisions in Multan and Sukkur.Justice Khawaja however observed that the anti-graft body had spent millions of rupees of the nation without fruitful results.
NAB chairman submitted that some 177 cases were under investigation process adding that there were also some complaints which had been referred to the relevant quarters. “We are working day and night to comply with the court orders”, NAB chairman told the court.
He further submitted that the anti-graft body did not have its police force but despite of that they were taking measures against corruption.NAB Prosecutor General Waqas Qadeer Dar told the court that the NAB had filed 682 references during the past four years adding that 271 accused were acquitted.
At this Justice Jawwad S Khawaja observed when 50 percent accused were acquitted it meant that the anti-graft body had produced ineffective evidence.“If 50 percent cases come to the Supreme Court, the anti-graft body should be given gold medals”, Justice Khawaja remarked.
To a court query reading the volume of proclaimed offenders, the NAB prosecutor general replied that there were 538 proclaim offenders while arrest warrants for 678 accused had been issued. He further informed that some 978 accused had been arrested during 2010-2015 of which 282 were in its custody while some were released on bail.
He further submitted that some 1,147 accused had returned the amount under the plea bargain.Later, the court adjourned the hearing until April 20.
Meanwhile, NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry called Dr Sohail Naqvi, Vice Chancellor (VC) Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) for support to have an effective Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) System in NAB in order to further improve the accountability system and good governance.
According to a press release, issued by NAB Dr Sohail Naqvi agreed to send LUMS team immediately to NAB Headquarters, Islamabad to conduct survey to have an effective Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) System in NAB at the earliest as desired by the Supreme Court.