NAB chairman orders bringing big cases to logical conclusion

ISLAMABAD: NAB Chairman Justice Javed Iqbal (retd) directed all regional bureaus of the NAB that all mega corruption cases against big fish should be taken to logical conclusion within the prescribed time frame so that references should be filed in the accountability courts to bring the corrupt elements to justice to recover looted money and deposit in the national exchequer considering its our national duty as per law.

“All inquiries, complaints and investigations would be completed on merit and transparency and based on solid evidence and documentary proof. We have to strictly follow the policy and necessary measures would be taken against all those who are involved in corruption through pursuing a policy of zero-tolerance, transparency and merit as per law,” the NAB chief said Tuesday in a direction to regional bureaus of the NAB. He directed the officers to work with due diligence and on merit as per law.

He said the NAB is one of the best anti-corruption organisations as compared to other organisations. He directed the DGs concerned to submit the latest report of all mega corrupt corruption cases as well as cases of illegal housing societies within one month so that progress on ongoing cases would be reviewed. He said the NAB is absolutely committed to eradicating corruption through effective National Anti-Corruption Strategy. He said comparative figures for the last three years are indicative of NAB’s excellent performance. He said 59 percent people have shown confidence in the NAB as per a report of Gillani and Gallup Survey. He said the NAB had filed 1273 corruption references in respected accountability courts which are under trial in the accountability courts having worth of Rs814 billion.

He said the NAB has established state-of-the art Forensic Science LAB in NAB Rawalpindi Bureau which has facilities of digital forensics, questioned documents and fingerprint analysis which is being utilised for further improvements in the quality of inquiries and investigations in all respects. He said the NAB has introduced a new concept of Combine Investigation Team (CIT) to benefit from the experience and collective wisdom of senior supervisory officers, a system of CIT consisting of director, additional director, investigation officer and a senior legal counsel has been put in place. “This is not only lending quality to the work but also ensuring that no single individual can influence the official proceedings of the NAB,” he added. He said the NAB has signed a MoU with China to oversee CPEC projects being conducted in Pakistan.

He said the youth is our future; NAB has signed a MoU with Higher Education Commission in order to make youth aware of the ill-effects of corruption at an early age. More than 50,000 character building societies have been established in colleges and universities of the country. He said Transparency International (TI) Pakistan, World Economic forum PILDAT and Mishal have appreciated NAB’s efforts in eradication of corruption. He said the NAB has devised a comprehensive quantified grading system in order to further improve the performance of NAB headquarters and all regional bureaus.

Under quantified grading system, he said the NAB headquarters and regional bureaus are being evaluated on annual and mid-term basis at a given criteria which has proved very successful and the performance of NAB’s regional bureaus is increasing day by day due to regular monitoring and inspection. The NAB chairman directed all regional bureaus to ensure self-respect of every person as anti-graft body is a people-friendly organisation that believes in zero corruption and 100 percent development.