- All DGs have to seek approval prior to start of investigation or arrest
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry has changed bureau’s policy against the corruption, and made bound all directors general (DGs) to seek chairman’s approval prior to initiating investigation/inquiry or even arrest of an accused allegedly involve in any corruption case.
While making a change in the zero tolerance policy against the corruption, the chairman announced cut in the powers of all DGs and they are now made bound to get chairman’s nod prior to launching an inquiry or making the arrest of a person allegedly involved in the corruption.
Similarly, timings of the chairman’s decision towards changing the bureau’s policy have opened eye brows as just four months are left to his retirement from the position. Also, the change in the policy with regard to the imposition of an embargo on the launch of inquiry or arrest of accused less than Rs 100 million might affect the activities/initiatives of the bureau.
A document available with Pakistan Today revealed that NAB headquarters has ordered all seven bureaus that inquiry would not be initiated against a corruption worth less than Rs 100 million without the approval of the chairman. Without getting approval, a DG would not issue arrest order of accused involved in on-going cases.
“No new inquiry or investigation involving amount less than Rs 100 million (Rs10 crore) may be authorised without approval, and on-going cases where amounts involved are less than Rs 100 million and prior permission of chairman has not obtained, therefore no arrests may be made without permission of chairman, the document said.
According to the document, the chairman has advised that decision pertain to up-gradation of corruption cases of less than Rs 100 million amounts would be taken in one month period of time under which it would be decided that either such cases should be forward to FIA or to the provincial anti-corruption establishment.
It is also learnt that certain limitations have been introduced in the powers of a bureau as after this change in policy, the bureau will forward a summary regarding the inquiry or investigation to the NAB headquarters for the approval. After getting chairman’s consent, the matter/case would be presented before the executive board for the final approval prior to filing a reference in the court.
“Prior to consideration of conversion from inquiry to investigation or investigation to reference, the recommendations may be forwarded to the NAB headquarters duly supported with solid and tangible reasons/justifications for seeking approval from the chairman for all such cases having a value less than Rs 100 million,” the document said.
