NAB committed to nabbing corrupt elements

ISLAMABAD: Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Justice (R) Javed Iqbal Monday said that NAB is committed to nab corrupt elements, proclaimed offenders (POs) and absconders and logical conclusion of mega corruption cases.

“The NAB first time in a year filed 630 corruption references in respected accountability courts and recovered Rs158 billion directly and indirectly from corrupt elements,” said Chairman NAB Justice (R) Javed Iqbal while chairing fortnightly meeting to review performance of NAB’s operation, prosecution and all regional bureaus of NAB at NAB Headquarters.

The NAB chairman directed all investigation officers to have a case diary of each case which is very important and will helpful them in improving the quality of inquiry and investigation as per law. During the meeting, it was informed that on the directions of the chairman NAB, Prosecution Division has been revamped by inducting experienced legal consultants/special prosecutors.

It was also informed that a mechanism of handling of witnesses has been established in all the regional bureaus of NAB and the result of this intervention is very encouraging. During the meeting, it was informed that Operation and Prosecution Divisions of NAB are working closely in order to have legal assistance to NAB’s Operations Division and all regional bureaus of NAB in conduct of complaint verifications, inquires, investigations as per law and laid down SOPs, pleading cases of NAB in accountability courts, high courts and the Supreme Court of Pakistan as per law.

It was informed 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 – from complaint verification-to-inquiry-to-investigation and finally to a reference in the Accountability Court.

The NAB chairman said that NAB is the only organisation which has prescribed a maximum time limit of 10 months for expeditious disposal of mega corruption white collar crime cases which is a challenging task but we are committed to beat the clock by putting hard work and ensuring corruption free Pakistan as per law.

He said that NAB has also introduced Combine Investigation Team (CIT) system in order to benefit from the experience and collective wisdom of senior supervisory officers. “This system is not only lending quality to the work but also ensuring that no single individual can influence the official proceedings of NAB, he said.

He said due to this reason, the NAB first time in a year filed 630 corruption references in respected accountability courts and recovered Rs158 billion directly and indirectly from corrupt elements. He said that due to constant deliberations, monitoring and performance analysis of Prosecution Division, the overall conviction ratio of NAB is approximately 70 percent in the respected accountability courts which is one of the best conviction ratio.

He said that NAB has established libraries at NAB Headquarters and all Regional Bureaus of NAB. He said that NAB has also established an E- Library at NAB Headquarters having more than 50, 000 electronic books related to Law Journals, yearly law reports and monthly law reports etc.