Conclusion of white-collar crime cases top priority: NAB chairman

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal has said the NAB is committed to root out corruption in all its forms and manifestations and logical conclusion of mega corruption white-collar cases is the top most priority of the Bureau.

"The NAB is determined to nab corrupt elements by adopting ‘Accountability for All’ policy,” he said.

The NAB chief said the Bureau has devised its three-pronged anti-corruption strategy of awareness, prevention and enforcement which is yielding excellent dividends. He said that NAB’s prime focus is on cases of cheating public at large by fraudulent financial companies, money laundering, bank frauds, misuse of authority and embezzlement of state funds by government servants etc. He said the NAB in 26 months has recovered Rs153 billion which is a record achievement.

Justice (R) Javed Iqbal said the NAB since its inception had filed 1,261 corruption references in respective accountability courts which are under trial in 25 respected accountability courts of the country and whose approximately worth is of Rs943 billion.

The figures of complaints, inquiries and investigations are almost double as compared to the same period of 2018 to 2019. The comparative figures for the latest 26 months are indicative of the hard work being put in by all ranks of NAB in an atmosphere of renewed energy and dynamism, where fight against corruption is being considered as a national duty.

He said increase in the number of complaints also reflects enhanced 59 percent public trust upon NAB as per Gillani and Gallop survey. He said that NAB has established Forensic Science Lab which has facilities of digital forensics, questioned documents and fingerprint analysis.

He said that reputed national and international organisations like Pildat, Mishal Pakistan, Transparency International and World Economic Forum have indicated Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate corruption.

The NAB chairman directed all officers to work fearlessly without taking any pressure as per law. He also reiterated that all cases should be conducted on merit on the basis of solid evidence.