NAB to probe govt ads handed to print media in 2007

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ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Saturday decided to investigate the monetary benefits and details of advertisements handed out to various publications of the country in 2007.

The anti-graft watchdog had directed the Director General for Public Relations of the country to hand over the required documents on the matter for further scrutiny.

Acting upon the orders the DG-PR submitted the needful to the bureau.

The watchdog had sought details for advertisements staring from 2007 till the month of July of the same year, specifically the 19th of the month.

In a written statement to the DG-PR prior to the submission, NAB had formally written to the director seeking his assistance on the inquiry.

Earlier, NAB Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal has said NAB was committed to taking the mega corruption cases to their logical conclusion to make Pakistan corruption-free.

Chairing a fortnightly meeting to review the performance of NAB’s operation, prosecution and all regional bureaus at NAB Headquarters, the anti-corruption watchdog chairman said NAB had filed 600 corruption references in the relevant courts during the last one year.

He said that the training of investigation officers and prosecutors is yielding positive results.

“NAB gives importance to training in order to improve the efficiency of its manpower,” he added.

The meeting was informed that in order to expedite the hearing of cases ten-month time has been fixed to complete the process of scrutiny of complaints, inquiry, investigations and filing cases in the accountability courts.

Earlier on June 25, the NAB chairman said that the bureau had so far recovered a record 326 billion rupees from corrupt elements and deposited the amount into national exchequer.

Iqbal while listening to the people’s corruption-related complaints at an ‘Open Ketchery’ made the claim of record recovery of looted and ill-gotten money, along with that recovered via plea-bargains.

The chairman issued on spot directives for resolving complaints of the complainants during the open court ‘Khuli Ketchery’.

He directed Director Generals of regional offices to listen to the people’s complaints on Thursday’s of every month.

Justice Javed Iqbal further said that NAB was taking serious steps to return the looted money in Mudarba and Musharka scandals.