By adopting international methods to prevent corruption, the National Accountability Bureau has intervened into projects and procurements worth Rs 1.5 trillion and saved Rs 200 billion of public money during 2012, Chairman Admiral (R) Fasih Bukhari said on Sunday.
Talking to journalists, NAB Chairman said NAB had taken the responsibility of revoking corruption before it had taken place and that it had been manifested by the bureau’s intervention in high profile cases which involved a huge amount of money because small-scale cases needed to be tackled by the FIA, anti-corruption, police and the departments which had their own courts like customs and taxation.
He said despite facing severe manpower deficit, NAB has revitalised its functioning when it was on the verge of collapse.
“Currently, we are running our affairs with 28 percent of our total manpower. Though we have recruited 260 new investigators, a deficit yet exists,” the chairman NAB said.
He said training of new officers would take another 6 months.
“This would further strengthen the enforcement. Around 40 of these investigators would be sent for further training abroad on the basis of their performance as NAB had sought cooperation of FBI and the investigation and anti-corruption agencies of the European Union,” he said.
He said the NAB would empower the regulators to advance meritocracy, fair-play and transparency, promotion of awareness and combating corruption that eats up the very core of the economy.
To a question, he said today NAB was different from the one headed by General (R) Amjad who had full backing of the army.
“At that time, NAB recovered Rs. 180 billion from tax and loan defaulters and the main force behind that recovery was the pressure of the armed forces. But despite having no such backing, NAB has recovered Rs 25 billion during the last year,” he said.
He ruled out the impression that NAB was still being used as a tool for political victimization, adding that the bureau always worked independently and would continue to execute its assigned functions.
To a question as to why the NAB investigation was slow, the chairman said the financial crimes investigation was highly complex and complicated.
“White collar criminals were highly intelligent and savvy in financial dealings and regulations. Finding prosecutable evidence to secure conviction under our current outdated Evidence Act is time consuming,” he said.
“I have already directed NAB Operations and Prosecution Wings to actively pursue all high profile cases including, RPPs and OGRA so that references could be filed if sufficient court-worthy evidence is available,” Bukhari said.
The NAB chief further said that the relevant wings of NAB had been directed to facilitate the Election Commission of Pakistan in holding free and fair election 2013, adding that election cells had also been set up at NAB headquarters and provincial regional offices.
Regarding the suo motu taken by NAB on tax evasion of telecom companies, Fasih Bukhari said the case was under investigation and its findings would be shared with the media when it reaches its logical conclusion.
“Let me tell you, NAB will not spare any corrupt individual or institution,” he added.
