‘NAB Karachi has recovered Rs5bn through plea bargain in one year’

The National Accountability Bureau’s Karachi chapter on Tuesday observed Anti-Corruption Day with the slogan “Our faith, Corruption-Free Pakistan”.

The spokesman for NAB Karachi said that in compliance with the direction of NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal and NAB’s motto “Our Faith, Corruption-Free Pakistan”, the Karachi chapter organised an anti-corruption walk in line with International Anti-Corruption Day, which is observed every year on December 9.

NAB Karachi arranged an awareness walk followed by a seminar on “Corruption-Free Pakistan – Accountability for All”. A ceremony was held for distribution of prizes and merit certificates among officials of NAB Karachi and students of various schools.

The chief guest on the occasion was Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, while Siraj Qasim Teli, former president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Zia-ul-Haq Makhdoom, advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistanm attended the event as guest speakers.

DG NAB Brig retd) Farooq Naser Awan, SI (M), while delivering the welcome speech, extended ­­gratitude to the guests and participants, highlighted the importance of International Anti-Corruption Day public awareness events.

He said NAB Karachi over the past few years had geared up its operations against corruption and had been performing exceptionally well. While highlighting the performance of NAB Karachi, the DG said that from October 2018 to December 2019, NAB Karachi had received over 11,000 complaints, which subsequently resulted in 198 inquiries, 77 investigations, 179 arrests and 50 references filed accountability courts in 2019.

NAB Karachi has recovered Rs7 billion through plea bargain during the last 18 years, and from October 2018 to December 2019, it has recovered Rs5 Billion through plea bargain in one year, which reflects a 50 per cent increase in direct recoveries.

Awan further said that this increase in recoveries is true of indirect recoveries, as in the previous 18 years NAB Karachi has recovered Rs20 billion, while between October 2018 and December 2019, such recoveries have added up to Rs50 billion, which is 1.5 times higher in comparison.

Governor Imran Ismail emphasised that all segments of society would play their role in the eradication of corruption, while other guests speakers emphasised the need for self-accountability and accountability across the board.

Later, the governor distributed the merit certificates amongst the officials of NAB Karachi and prizes amongst the winners of declamation contests and poster competitions held all over Sindh.