ISLAMABAD: Feb 08, 2022: Justice Javed Iqbal Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has said that taking mega corruption cases to a logical conclusion is the top priority of NAB.
Corruption is the root of all evils, but also the biggest obstacle to the country’s development and prosperity.
The NAB’s performance over the last four years, if viewed with an open heart instead of a lens of prejudice, is on record that NAB has not only called these big fish for more than 4 years but NAB has questioned them about the alleged money looted which no one could even think of calling in the past.
The learned Accountability Courts of the country have convicted 1405 accused persons in last more than four years due to vigorous prosecution of NAB.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has recovered record Rs 584 billion directly and indirectly from the corrupt elements.
He expressed these views at a function organized by NAB Rawalpindi Bureau at NAB headquarters in which he distributed cheques amounting to
Rs 3.2 billion among the affectees of National House Building and Road Development Corporation and Gulshan Rehman Housing Scheme /Accurate Builders and Contractors Pvt. Ltd. The ceremony was attended by NAB’s Deputy Chairman Zahir Shah, Prosecutor General Accountability Syed Asghar Haider and senior officers of NAB.
Honourable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal said that NAB believed in a corruption free Pakistan.
NAB has strictly adhered to the policy of accountability for all in accordance with the law. At present 1237 references are being heard in various esteemed accountability courts of the country on the basis of solid evidence of NAB which is worth about Rs. 1353 billion.
The NAB has decided to file petitions in accordance with the law in the esteemed accountability courts for early hearing of under trial cases where the law will make its own way.
Chairman Justice Javed Iqbal said that NAB has introduced a new system of Combined Investigation Team (CIT) besides setting a time limit of 10 months for investigation, inquiry and completion of complaints under Enforcement Strategy.
Combined Investigation Team aimed at taking benefit of the experience and collective wisdom of the senior supervisory officers to further improve the quality of inquiries and investigations based on solid evidence and statements of witnesses in accordance with the law, with positive results.
Out of 179 mega corruption cases, 66 cases have been brought to a logical conclusion as per law while 94 corruption cases are pending in accountability courts.
He said that there was no precedent for money laundering, misuse of power and ruthless looting of illegal and fake housing by the operative housing societies.
NAB has not only recovered billions of rupees from the owners of illegal and fake housing / co operative housing societies but also distributed the recovered amount among the victims which is part of the record.
The NAB chairman said that the NAB has set a time limit of 10 months for investigation on the basis of evidence, documentary evidence and scientific basis of white collar cases which has not been allotted by any anti-corruption agency in the world.
Right now NAB is the focal organisation of Pakistan under United National Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) but NAB is the elected Chairman of SAARC Anti Corruption Forum.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is only institute which signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China to enhance cooperation which is honour for NAB.
He said that NAB has not only filed references in respectable accountability courts in Madaraba scandals but also due to effective follow up of NAB Rawalpindi has imposed maximum fine of Rs. 10 billion in Madaraba case in court history.
While a few days ago, in the context of FATF, the accused in the NAB assets case, Ghulam Murtaza Malik, has been convicted under the Anti Money Laundering Act and NAB Act.
Thanks to the efforts of NAB Rawalpindi, the return of more than Rs 3 billion looted from 12300 victims of only two housing societies is a clear indication of the action taken by NAB against illegal and fake housing societies as per law.
Sometimes it was looted by Mudaraba and sometimes through housing societies and sometimes the housing societies looted billions of rupees from naive people not only after showing attractive advertisements and sweet dreams.
The NAB has conducted 2460 inquiries and 82 investigations in the last four years while 1237 cases worth Rs 1335 billion are pending in various accountability courts.
Earlier, Director General NAB Rawalpindi Irfan Naeem Mangi, while highlighting the excellent performance of NAB Rawalpindi, said that under the leadership of Chairman NAB, NAB Rawalpindi today is not only returning more than three billion rupees to the afrectees of two housing societies. Yet, NAB Rawalpindi has recovered Rs. 33 billion directly and indirectly in fake accounts cases.
He said that today when Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal, Chairman NAB is returning the looted money to the affectees , they paid their respects and prayers to Chairman NAB and all the officers/officials of NAB Rawalpindi. We have received fruits of our sincere efforts and hard work as per law which will further raised our spirits.
Chairman NAB Justice Javed Iqbal said that the officers / officials of NAB Rawalpindi have played an outstanding, tremendous, key and important role in the overall performance of NAB under the supervision of DG NAB Irfan Naeem Mangi which is commendable. He hoped that NAB Rawalpindi would continue its excellent performance in the future as well to help the country to eradicate corruption to make Pakistan corruption free which is our collective aim and we all are striving for it with dedication, hard work and renewed