NAB not taking political revenge: chairman

KARACHI: Reiterating his resolve to continue the accountability drive, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal on Wednesday said the anti-graft body would cross every hurdle to make Pakistan a corruption-free country.

“NAB has no connection with politics nor does it have anything to do with the government,” he stressed while speaking during an event at the NAB Karachi headquarters. “NAB is not taking political revenge from any individual or party,” he said.

“The people who were difficult to question in the past are now in the custody of the law,” said Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal. He informed the participants that during the last four months, over Rs4 billion had been recovered only from the province of Sindh.

The chairman said that NAB wanted to work for Pakistan and its people only. “To make Pakistan corruption-free, we need the support of the people,” he added.

“We believe in accountability for all. Do not indulge in corrupt practices assuming nobody knows anything. If there is evidence against any official, action will be taken against him or her,” he warned.

Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal said that corrupt elements who thought they were untouchable are in jails today. The NAB chief said that time of reward and punishment is determined and that the anti-corruption watchdog has not signed any deal but given relaxation only. “We believe in accountability for all policy,” he asserted.

The chairman said housing societies and builders who loot people’s money cannot protect themselves from NAB. The housing societies and builders cannot skip the accountability process. He further urged the general masses to cooperate with the accountability watchdog to free Pakistan from corruption. He expressed his commitment that the mafias that looted the poor nationals would have to return their money. The NAB chairman said that the accountability process is for all as the institution is aimed at making Pakistan corruption-free.

He further urged the general masses to cooperate with the NAB to free Pakistan from corruption.

The NAB chairman also mentioned that Rs4 billion hasdbeen recovered from Sindh in only four months. He also explained that 600 corruption references have been filed during 23 months in which 70 percent were punished. He also admired the qualities of DG NAB Farooq Awan.

The chairman said that the NAB Karachi is a major regional bureau which has played a vital role in the performance of the anti-corruption body. Javed Iqbal said that the NAB has the first priority to investigate white collar crimes on scientific grounds.

He said that the NAB has achieved a milestone as it submitted a huge sum of Rs71 billion in the national exchequer adding that the graft buster body has sent as many as 600 references to accountability courts in the last 23 months while it has a punishment rate of 70 percent in the references.

Appreciating the performance of the body’s Karachi chapter, he said that DG NAB Karachi Farooq Nasar Awan has been taking initiatives to improve its performance. At the end, the chairman distributed certificates and prizes among the NAB employees having the best performances.