Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid says watchdog has failed to curb corruption and is now leveling false allegations against political leadership
Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed on Wednesday hit out at the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), saying it has lost its credibility by failing to curb corruption.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament House, the minister also called for major reforms in the accountability establishment.
The statements come a day after NAB officials filed a report of 150 mega corruption cases before the Supreme Court. NAB had submitted a list that include cases against high profile figures, including incumbent Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, former premiers, ministers and top bureaucrats.
Rashid alleged that NAB was used as a tool by former dictator Pervez Musharraf to intimidate and harass opponents in the past. He said that NAB has leveled false allegations against the political leadership and the performance of the bureau itself must be scrutinised.
The minister said that Nawaz Sharif has been elected as prime minister for the third time and the manner in which NAB has tried to bring his reputation to question has hurt the sentiments of millions of people who have faith in him.
Expressing displeasure at the conduct of the bureau — in terms of cases of corruption for the last 15 years or so — the minister noted that NAB and its officials need to be held accountable. He further claimed that NAB failed to prosecute suspects in a court of law, while it engaged in public slander and blackmail.
