Tackling corrupt elements: ‘Anti-corruption strategy yielding dividends’

NAB chief says increase in applications received reflective of people’s confidence in body

ISLAMABAD: Corruption undermines development and the rule of law. It causes delays in the completion of projects and increases inflation, decreasing purchasing power of the common man. In light of these facts, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was established in 1999 as Pakistan’s apex anti-corruption organisation, assigned to eliminate corruption through a holistic approach of awareness, prevention and enforcement.

Under the leadership of NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, the bureau prepared a comprehensive national anti-corruption strategy.

During 2015, NAB has prosecuted corrupt elements and recovered over Rs 4.5 billion in looted public money. This brings the total recovery to date to Rs265.12 billion, according to NAB statistics. The bureau added that monetary allocation to NAB for its working since its inception is Rs10.111 billion, which is 3.74 per cent of the recoveries made by the body.

The numbers of applications received in 2014 were 40,077, which is more than double the 19,900 complaints received in 2013. NAB said the increase is reflective of people’s confidence in the anti-corruption body.

In terms of inquiries, NAB has completed 585 inquiries during 2014, compared to 243 during 2013. In its report, PILDAT has rated NAB’s performance at 42 per cent, based on a public survey, compared to a 29 per cent public confidence shown in the report towards the police, and 26 per cent in government officers. A recent report of Transparency International rated Pakistan 175 from 126 in the in Corruption Perception Index.

To create awareness among the youth, NAB in collaboration with Higher Education Commission, has signed a memorandum of understanding to set up over 10,000 character building societies in universities, colleges and schools.

In addition, NAB has filed 12 references in the Rs22 billion Modarba scam, and recovered Rs1.73 billion in the scam in addition to properties and vehicles. NAB has also arrested 33 accused in this case. Further, NAB filed nine references in rental power project cases in respective accountability courts.

On directions of the chairman, a standard operating procedure has also been devised to rationalise workload, and timelines have been prescribed for efficient, effective and expeditious disposal of cases. A maximum limit of 10 months has been prescribed for complaint verification-to-inquiry-to-investigation and finally to a reference in an accountability court.

NAB has also devised a comprehensive quantified grading system to review annual performance of its regional bureaus and further improve the performance of officials. The annual performance of all of NAB’s regional bureaus under the quantified grading system will start in the first week of January, and end in February, the bureau said.

NAB has also established an integrity management cell at NAB Headquarters, under directions of the chairman. An internal accountability mechanism has also been set up in order to encourage the culture of adherence to rules and SOPs. Further, NAB has established its first Forensic Science laboratory at the Rawalpindi/Islamabad regional bureau. The lab has the facilities of digital forensics, questioned documents and fingerprint analysis.

NAB has decided to give priority to corruption cases, as well as developed a monitoring and evaluation system to cater to all concerned. The bureau has also introduced a human resource management information system for better career planning. About 400 refresher and capacity building training courses with the help of local and foreign partner organisations were also conducted.

In line with chairman’s commitment to eradicate corruption, NAB and SECP have decided to create a joint task force to work on corruption cases referred by the SECP.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2016.