KP notifies procedure to shield govt servants from harassment

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has notified the new procedure to save government servants from unjustified harassment and direct arrests by the National Accountability Bureau.

A high-powered Scrutiny Committee has been established to conduct a preliminary probe into the complaints received from the NAB to ascertain the veracity of complaints. The committee will ensure that all accused are given an opportunity for hearing in the NAB.

NAB KP Director General Waqar Chauhan told The News that following the vision of NAB Chairman Nazir Ahmed Butt, coordination had been maintained with the provincial government, especially bureaucracy to ensure good governance in the province so that the officers could make decisions without any pressure. He said that even during the chairman’s visit to Peshawar, government officials had expressed a positive opinion about the NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, on the directives of chairman NAB, a scrutiny committee has been established to investigate complaints against government officials. “This was a longstanding demand of government servants to restore their confidence for better performance,” he said.

The chief secretary KP has issued Notification No.S0 (E-DE&AD/9-110/2024. It states that after the visit of NAB chairman to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Civil Secretariat Peshawar on 18.12.2023 and his address to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa civil bureaucracy, a scrutiny committee has been established. It will consist of secretary Establishment Department as chairman, secretary Law Department, secretary Finance Department, secretary P&D Department, as members, and any other member co-opted by the committee.

The letter says the committee shall conduct a preliminary probe into complaints received from the NAB to ascertain the veracity of complaints. The committee will share findings/ recommendations (if any) with the NAB after getting proper approval from the competent authority. The committee shall ensure that all civil servants are given adequate opportunity of representation/hearing in the NAB.

“The committee shall maintain confidentiality of the accused and avoid media trials leading to a bad name for the department and NAB. The committee shall suggest ways & means for promoting good governance, accountability and transparency of government functionaries,” the notification said.

Government officials praised the committee’s formation and said this decision would improve and speed up the decision-making process in government matters and prevent unnecessary stress. The National Accountability Bureau will not be able to take direct action and arrest any officer but will first wait for the report of Scrutiny Committee.