Action on Peshawar BRT scam once court stay vacated: NAB chief

ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal said on Monday corruption references in Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Malam Jabba ski resort scandals were almost ready and action against accused would be taken as soon as court’s stay order was vacated.

Speaking at an International Anti-Corruption Day ceremony here on Monday, the NAB chief said the winds had started blowing from a different direction and people would be able to observe the difference arising as a result of that very soon. President Arif Alvi and National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser were also in attendance at the ceremony.

Justice (retd) Iqbal said: “We cannot claim to eliminate corruption completely from the country nor is this only the responsibility of NAB.” He stressed every Pakistani had to play a role in the campaign against corruption. He said the anti-corruption watchdog was progressing well towards its destination. He said those who looted the country were either behind bars or had left the country. The NAB chief said people often asked him why the anti-graft body had not been taking action on BRT. “Let me make it very clear that action will be taken as soon as the court’s stay order is vacated.”

He said there was no concept of accountability in kingdoms or emperorships and the country went through bizarre experiences because of the lust for power.“Self -accountability will produce good results. There’s also a section [of the society] that has many complaints with the NAB,” he said, adding nobody carries pocket in his shroud.

Justice (retd) Iqbal emphasised it was the responsibility of the Parliament to legislate while observing public aspirations. The disease was 72 years old and the entire nation needed to get united for healing, he said, adding the bureau had laid the first brick to eradicate corruption.

He said the NAB was now concentrating on taking mega corruption cases to their logical conclusion. By pursuing the policy of accountability for all, he said, the NAB had recovered Rs382 billion and after 2017 Rs153 billion had been recovered.

He said 1261 corruption references involving Rs943 billion were currently being heard in different accountability courts, but there were only 25 courts to hear those references. The NAB chairman asserted corruption was the cause of prejudice and unemployment in the country.Earlier, the NAB chief directed all the directors general of the bureau to ensure completion of complaint verifications, inquiries and investigations within the prescribed timeframe.