NAB says it recovered Rs 181b from loan defaulters, Rs 19b through VR and Rs 10.7b in plea bargain cases in last 15 years
Submitting details regarding the recovery of Rs 263 billion in different cases in last 15 years, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that it had collected Rs 181 billion from loan defaulters.
In compliance of the top court’s order, NAB Additional Prosecutor General Akbar Tarar while submitting details said, “Of Rs 181 billion, Rs 169 billion were recovered during the first four years of the formation of NAB (2000-03), which is 93 per cent of the total recovery.”
The report added that NAB had recovered Rs 19.046 billion through voluntary return (VR) while Rs 10.712 billion in plea bargain (PB) cases in the last 15 years.
Moreover, over Rs 2 billion were collected through VR and PB in the continuing year. Meanwhile, Rs 29 billion were deposited with NAB against court fines.
While hearing the case on 150 mega corruption cases on Thursday, the Supreme Court bench observed that NAB’s efforts in weeding out corruption were laudable and corruption will have to be eradicated.
Referring to anti-corruption endeavours as common target for the country’s institutions, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja assured that the court was with the NAB chairman for weeding out corruption.
“We have become slaves of the IMF and the World Bank and we fly to Dubai all at once when they call us. On one hand, we are wandering with bagging bowl in our hand and on the other hand a new corruption case surfaces every day. Corruption of Rs 70 billion on account of grey trafficking, Rs 1600 million of railway land and 83 billion of OGRA has come to the fore while much more is still going on the corruption front outside the judiciary,” he further observed.
Upon Justice Khawaja’s query over incomplete projects, NAB’s deputy prosecutor said that an enquiry into the case will be completed this year.
On the occasion, the court also sought reply from the federal and Punjab governments on construction of Dosha Dam and DHA on the same land and adjourned the hearing till July 23.
