Govt considering a muzzle for accountability watchdog

• NAB says it respects PM’s remarks, as NAB chief gives Punjab bureau free hand to probe corruption cases
• PPP may be ready to cooperate with PML-N for repealing NAB Act

With the federal, Punjab and Sindh governments critical of what they call the ‘overstepping’ by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), efforts are afoot to clip the wings of the anti-corruption watchdog, Pakistan Today has learnt.

Of late, NAB has come under severe criticism from mainstream political leaders from treasury as well as the opposition benches for its campaign against allegations of corruption. While Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari and his party’s Sindh government have been critical of the NAB’s role in ‘targeting’ his party leaders, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif joined the chorus two days ago, warning the NAB chief to remain in limits or the government would take action.

NAB STANDS DEFIANT:

The anti-corruption body’s Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, however, looks defiant.

A spokesman for the anti-corruption watchdog said on Wednesday that NAB ‘respects the remarks of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’ about the functioning of anti-graft body. However, on the same day, reports said that the NAB chairman had given free hand to the NAB Punjab director general (DG) to speed up action against corrupt officials.

A well placed source told Pakistan Today that two proposals were being discussed in the Ministry of Law to deal with the overstepping of NAB.

“Proposals are being discussed to either repeal the NAB Act and bring it under the administrative control of the Law Ministry; or to form a multi-party parliamentary commission to reframe laws to ensure that NAB remains within its limits and does not disrupt the mega development projects,” the source said.

The source added that the consultation was at an initial stage and no final decision had been taken as yet.

Federal Minister for Information and Law Senator Pervaiz Rashid, when contacted to confirm whether the Law Ministry was working to repeal the NAB Act, responded “not yet”.

Reports in the media have suggested that the government and the opposition parties, namely the PML-N and PPP are on the same page on silencing NAB.

The previous government of the PPP had put NAB under administrative control of the Law Ministry, clipping its wings to carry on any major decision. Since then, NAB became a mere government institution without any powers. However, of late, the NAB has launched investigation into high profile corruption cases with some political heavyweights in the spotlight.

PML-N, PPP ON SAME PAGE:

When contacted, PML-N Information Secretary Senator Mushahidullah Khan said the parliament had a role to play whenever any state organ develops flaws.

“Reform is an ongoing process as the country is in a transitional phase. The prime minister must have some credible evidence and there is no harm in raising questions,” he added.

PPPP Information Secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira said his party was for an accountability watchdog which did not function in a targeted manner and rather moved against the corrupt whoever they might be.

“PPP leader Benazir Bhutto and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had agreed under the Charter of Democracy to form a parliamentary commission to frame an accountability system which could carry out without any prejudice or targeted approach,” he said.

“We stand committed to the Charter of Democracy. The PPP government had tried to improve things in this regard but at that time, Nawaz Sharif did not cooperate with our government,” he added.

Asked if his party would make any demand from the federal government to make a move in this regard or form a parliamentary commission, Kaira said the PPP would not do so.

“However, we would welcome if the government moves towards this objective,” he added. Kaira, however, expressed doubts that the federal government would form a parliamentary body.

“I don’t think that the PM would do so as it might trigger consequences he cannot afford,” he elaborated.

Prime Minister Nawaz, a day earlier, had publicly warned the watchdog not to harass “honest” officials.

The premier made these remarks following reports that the accountability bureau chairman headed a meeting of the institution’s top officials in the Lahore office and told them to carry out investigations against corrupt officials without succumbing to external pressure from any section.

The meeting was attended by NAB Punjab DG Syed Burhan Ali and two other officials. Reports quoting sources said that the bureau chairman ordered the Punjab officials to accelerate action and launch indiscriminate probes against corrupt officials.

Reportedly, the director general briefed the higher-ups over Education Minister Rana Mashhood’s video case, youth festival case and cases against Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)’s Asif Hashmi.

The NAB chairman appreciated Punjab subdivision’s efforts to curb corruption and faulty practices. He directed DG Ali to expedite inquiries of cases against government officials and other politicians.

He urged DG Burhan Ali to take such steps that 2016 is dubbed as ‘the year of National Accountability Bureau’s Punjab chapter’.

NAB had launched a formal investigation into Mashhood’s video scandal in September 2015. The minister is accused of colluding with Asim Malik, owner of a visa consultancy firm for funds for the ruling party, PML-N, at his house a few years ago.

In December 2015, the bureau had summoned the education minister to record his statement in the corruption reference pertaining to the student youth festival.

The probe was deferred by the investigation officer for an indefinite period after recording the statement of the accused. The provincial education minister had pleaded not guilty.

Mashhood had stated at the time that Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was done with the investigation of the case and the Lahore High Court (LHC) had given its verdict in the matter also.

NAB RESPECTS PM’S REMARKS:

Meanwhile, the NAB spokesman said while commenting on the prime minister’s rejoinder the day before that NAB respected the prime minister’s remarks.

“We had inherited some issues and steps are being taken to address them,” the spokesman said.

“NAB is an independent body because of government’s policy of non-interference,” he said, adding that that the accountability process would be improved in the light of suggestions given by the prime minister.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Nawaz had warned the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against ‘harassing’ government employees.

“The NAB must perform its duties responsibly. They barge into houses and offices and harass innocent people without looking into the authenticity of cases,” the PM observed.

He was addressing his party workers at Bahawalpur. “They (NAB officials) dishonor people in unlawful cases, create hindrance, inflict harassment and terrify government officers,” the PM said.

“I have brought this issue into NAB chairman’s notice. He must take action otherwise the government will initiate necessary and legal action,” the premier had vowed.

On the other hand, while responding to Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s call to the NAB chairman to take notice of its alleged dubious working, former president Asif Ali Zardari said that the Bureau is not the only organisation troubling innocent people. He said that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was following suit.

Zardari said that former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain had been wrongly accused of corruption.

“He is being harassed for the last several months,” he added. He criticised the government for violating the 18th Amendment continuously.