NAB’s new approach

There is a big attention to corruption nowadays, as number of cases related to corruption are the focus of electronic, print and social media.

Notorious Rental Power Plants (RPPs) scam, Ephedrine case, Railways scam and NATO containers’ case are significant among others. When someone talks about big corruption cases, immediately anticorruption agencies come under discussion and National Accountably Bureau (NAB) is on the top of the list as it is the apex anticorruption agency of Pakistan.

NAB is under question for the last many days with special reference to cases against Sharif family. Illogical stands are being taken by some critics, they are of the view that why not the NAB taking action against Sharif family.

The bureau should not pay heed to this rhetoric and political statements by some politicians. It should act according to the rules and tell the international community that Pakistan has one of the best anti-corruption agencies in the world. It was the practice in the past when political opponents were victimised.

NAB is not a political institution which should be used for political oppression; rather it is a complaint driven organisation which should act according to laid down rules in National Accountability Ordinance 1999.

NAB has been doing its job at best level in the command of its new Chairman Admiral (Retd) Fasih Bokhari, as according to some media reports Rs 825 million have been recovered only in last week.

If you have a look on its annual report 2011, it reveals that since its inception on November 16, 1999, the bureau has recovered over Rs 233.3 billion (US$ 3.8 billion) looted money from public office holders and private citizens. It further states that “NAB is undergoing a process of revival and rejuvenation by enhancing both the quantity and quality of manpower and re-thinking its operational strategy.

In contrast with NAB’s historic focus on enforcement, the bureau is preparing to adopt a new outlook and strategic approach for attempting to prevent corruption rather than purely enforcement after crime.

During year 2011, despite the constrains it faced, the Bureau processed 6,583 complaints, completed 155 inquiries, filed 71 references in the Courts and recovered an amount of Rs 902 million through Voluntary Return and Plea Bargain”.

It is welcoming to note that the bureau is going to focus on prevention rather than only on enforcement. This is highly commendable step of the bureau. The menace of corruption can be eradicated if it succeeds in its new strategic approach.

HAFIZ MUHAMMAD IRFAN

Islamabad