ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau on Wednesday rejected the remarks of Special Assistant for Energy and Petroleum Tabish Gohar delivered during a speech in the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) by terming it baseless, fabricated and contrary to the facts.
The NAB, while brushing aside the remarks, said that the Special Assistant for Energy and Petroleum had tried to create a negative image of NAB in the business community besides attempting to influence the sub judice LNG reference and allegedly benefit the accused involved in the reference.
The NAB in its official announcement said that the NAB had decided to officially seek the copy of the statement of Tabish Gohar delivered in FPCCI, Karachi, from PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) and analyse it in the light of Clause 31 (a) of the NAB ordinance, afterwards the law will take its course.
It stated that the NAB strongly denies the baseless allegations leveled against it accusing that the bureau has taken notice of recent agreements inked with Qatar and CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) projects as the bureau is a human-friendly institute, which believes in zero corruption and hundred percent progress.
It may be mentioned here that the strategy of NAB on the basis of alleged wrongdoing in the past in LNG, to remove flaws in future agreements with IPPs (Independent Power Producers) through holding negotiations, has proved successful. “This will help in saving Rs836 billion of the government,” the NAB announcement stated.
The NAB referred to a press release of the bureau which was issued on February 18, 2021 and March 30, 2021 duly aired by all TV channels and published in newspapers is a part of record.
The NAB also categorically said that no investigations were being carried out regarding any project of CPEC and the statement of SAPM was contrary to the facts and the bureau denies this statement forcefully. “And it is to mention here that the bureau is the only institution in the world which has inked a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with China to oversee the CPEC projects. Pakistan and China will work closely for elimination of corruption,” the NAB announcement stated.
Commenting about keeping the accused in 90 days incarnation, the NAB clarified that NAB presents an accused to relevant accountability court within 24 hours period. “NAB not only record reasons of the arrest of the accused but also answers the objections raised by the lawyer of the accused person,” the NAB announcement stated.
The Accountability Court decides about the remand of the accused after hearing remarks of both sides on merit in accordance with Constitution and law. The NAB advised the SAPM to meticulously review the NAB Ordinance approved by parliament. It is relevant to mention here that the Supreme Court of Pakistan had already reviewed the NAB Ordinance in Anfandyar Wali case.
It stated that the NAB has assured the business community and bureaucracy again and again that the bureau is a human and business-friendly institution and firmly believes in serving as per the Constitution and relevant law. “The people of business community and bureaucracy who are working within the ambit of laws must not frightened at all as NAB was their own institution which gives importance to the role of business community in the progress and prosperity of the country as well as NAB considers bureaucracy as backbone of the country,” the NAB announcement stated.
The NAB announcement stated that chairman NAB had already met with the leadership of the business community at Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and NAB headquarters and took immediate measures to resolve their issues.
The chairman NAB also sent Income Tax, Sales Tax and Under Invoicing cases of business community to FBR (Federal Board of Revenue) as per law. The chairman has also established a Special Desk at NAB Headquarters to resolve the problems of the business community. “The business community leadership felicitated the chairman NAB on this initiative,” the NAB announcement stated. The NAB considers role of bureaucracy as the most important for progress and prosperity of the country.
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