Investigating cases: NAB officials asked to show integrity

Chairman says investigators must exhibit honesty before holding others accountable

ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry reiterated the resolve to continue the policy of zero tolerance against corruption within the anti-corruption body.

While chairing a meeting to review progress on the implementation of internal accountability mechanism (IAM) introduced in NAB, he said that though certain vested interest lobbies have started a smear propaganda campaign against the anti-graft, NAB officers should perform their duties without fear or favour.

During the meeting, chairman’s Inspection and Monitoring Team (CIMT) senior member told the chairman that the IAM has been introduced within NAB to weed out such elements that, through inefficiency, misconduct, and malpractice violate laid down rules to bring a bad name to the organisation.

The meeting was informed that disciplinary proceedings were carried out against 83 officials in the last two and half years, and of them, 60 cases were finalised with 22 major and 34 minor penalties while four exonerated.

The NAB chairman said that action against government functionaries facing corruption charges will be effective only if wrong people within NAB were held accountable. “A NAB officer should have impeccable integrity and most maintained service discipline as he makes other accountable,” he said adding that discipline was important for efficiency and effective performance of a system.

He said that though good work of officials will be appreciated, stern action will be taken against officials facing public complaints.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 21^st, 2016.