ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal has said that the bureau is committed to nabbing the corrupt, proclaimed offenders and absconders with an iron hand by adopting a policy to hold everyone accountable.
In a statement, he said: “2017 was the year of rejuvenation of NAB in order to inquire/investigate corruption cases on merit without any fear and favor.”
He added that NAB has rationalised its workload and timelines have been prescribed for efficient, effective and expeditious disposal of cases putting a maximum limit of 10 months.
NAB chief said, “In order to ensure uniformity and standardisation, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for investigation officers (IOs) in vogue were reviewed and revised after a gap of 10 years in order to benefit from the experience and collective wisdom of senior supervisory officers, a system of CIT comprising of Director, Additional Director, Investigation Officer and a Senior Legal Counsel has been put in place.”
“This has not only lending quality to the work but also ensuring that no single individual can influence the official proceedings of NAB,” he argued.
He said that he implementation of enforcement measures and prosecution matters are being monitored in NAB through daily, weekly and monthly reports and inspections. He said that NAB is committed with the realisation that eradication of corruption as its performance is considered as record achievement with overall convictions of 77%.
The anti-graft body chief directed all DGs of regional bureaus to ensure self-respect of all the complainants and respond them expeditiously as per law.
He said that corruption is the mother of all evils which is a major hurdle in the development and prosperity of the country. “NAB has recovered Rs 296 from corrupt and deposited in the national exchequer,” he stated.
Justice Iqbal said that NAB is determined to recover the looted money from the corrupt by utilising all its resources as the bureau is absolutely committed for a corruption-free Pakistan.