Raja Faisal
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is facing serious threats from political parties. Bureau is highly concerned and critical about the security of the officers of Combined Investigation Teams (CIT).
Talking to a presser on Wednesday, Deputy Chairman Imtiaz Tajwar said that NAB was facing obstruction in delivering its services. The officers were being chased, stopped and threatened. The director generals of the bureau were facing derogatory attitude and threatening remarks. “Political figures are punching NAB from every side”.
“We respect all the institutions and we treat all political parties equally. We will file references on Panama cases in accordance with the directions given in the Supreme Court verdict”, he said. He further added, ‘When the bureau probes cases against political figures, they start criticising the NAB’.
NAB helps strengthen the institutions, good and evil persists in every institution. Still the NAB gets referred to by other institutions. NAB is active since 1999 and has recovered Rs 288 billion till date. NAB has recovered billions for Pakistan and not for the institution. International institutions have recognised the efforts of NAB against corruption. NAB is heading the SAARC anti-corruption organisation. NAB is a national institution and is completely trusted upon by the nation.
“NAB signed agreements with China, Malaysia and Central Asian Republics to increase transparency in the CPEC project”, he added. He also expected positive reporting on the bureau’s performance from the media. He further mentioned that NAB expects appreciation on our untiring efforts and successes for the sake of corruption free Pakistan.
NAB Director General Zahir Shah said that NAB had challenged the bail orders of Doctor Asim issued to him by Sindh High Court. NAB’s appeal regarding ECL was cancelled and granted travel permission to Doctor Asim. The cases against former president Zardari were filed with NAB in 1999. One of investigating officers has died and other is living abroad.
“Former president’s acquittal cannot be linked to NAB or its chairman”, DG Shah said. He further added regarding Zardari’s acquittal that the cases became part of NRO which later was challenged in courts and were reopened on the orders of the court. NAB has never offered favours in any of the cases. Court proceedings run on witnesses statements and if a witness disappears, nothing can be done related to that.
NAB’s Prosecutor General Waqas Qadeer Dar said that knowing someone personally does not mean that favours would be extended in his wrongdoings. “NAB believes in total transparency and is a professional institution. No favours can ever be extended to a wrongdoer”, he said.
He further added that in high court, NAB Prosecution team was successful in 1,371 cases whereas only 372 cases went against NAB. Whereas, in Supreme Court, the percentage of success was 54 percent.
Regarding the Panama cases against the Sharif family, the officers informed that Sharif family legal aids have submitted all the records. NAB has the authority to arrest anyone if required. NAB has also started receiving replies from different countries in light of Volume-X of the JIT findings.
“There are some legal issues to look into regarding the Hudaibiya Paper Mills case”, Prosecutor General Dar said.
Earlier this month, NAB declared red alert within the office premises. The staff was given directions on limited use of internet and social media on phones.
Pakistan Today contacted NAB spokesman Asim Ali Nawazish regarding the threats, he said “No particular political party is under question, on Monday the vehicle of one of the investigation officers of NAB was chased by unknown persons and officer was threatened”.
