ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has summoned National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman Justice (R), Javed Iqbal , again for scrutiny of appropriations of accounts of the bureau.
The PAC notice served on Justice (R), Javed Iqbal , directed him to appear before the committee on January 26, 2022 with complete detail of appropriation of NAB accounts, including recoveries made so for from the accused in terms of cash, moveable and immoveable assets.
NAB recoveries and their disbursement has been under criticism in parliament for long. In its follow- up, PAC had summoned chairman , justice Javed Iqbal, for scrutiny of NAB accounts on January 6, 2022. NAB chairman had declined to appear before the committee and send a director general to present NAB case before the committee. NAB chairman referred a prime minister, Imran Khan’s letter wherein he was advised not to appear before the PAC in person. This development offended the PAC members who refused to hear the director general and pospond the hearing.
After three weeks, NAB chairman has been summoned again by the PAC. PAC is the highiest parliamentary forum for scrutiny of the accounts of all those departments whose employees are paid salaries from the public exchequer.
It would be interesting to see weather NAB chairman appears in person before the comnuttee or uses the same the prime minister’s letter to stay away from the PAC.
NAB chairman in legal terms is liable to appear before the PAC . The prime minister’s advise to him in writing, if really issued, to stay away from the PAC meeting is totally illegal and a big question mark on the rule of law in Pakistan.
