International accountability: NAB officials told to perform duties with dedication

Meeting reviews implementation of internal accountability mechanism

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry has directed the bureau’s officers to perform their duties with dedication and follow merit.

He reiterated his resolve to continue the policy of zero tolerance against corruption within the bureau, said a press release of the bureau.

He issued these directives during a meeting held at the bureau’s head office here on Thursday to review the implementation of its internal accountability mechanism in order to weed out tainted officials that bring a bad name to the organization.

Chaudhry said that action against government functionaries will be credible only if delinquents within the bureau are held accountable.

A NAB officer should have impeccable integrity and maintain discipline as he makes others accountable.

Disciplinary matters are important for efficiency and effective performance of a system.

He directed the regional bureaus to take stern action against the officers by taking the stock of complaints against them and submit a regular report to the headquarters.

The meeting was informed that policy guidelines had been issued about the establishment and working of the mechanism to all regional bureaus.

NAB has introduced certain measures to guard against any unethical and unprofessional conduct, including evaluation of the output of officers as well as field units, observance of the standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Timelines have been prescribed for each stage of its work which forecloses the possibility of unscrupulous elements going astray or twisting the system for illegal gains.

It was also informed that the concept of combined investigation teams has been introduced making it impossible for any individual to influence any inquiry or investigation.

Periodic performance reviews and case analysis by inspection and monitoring teams serve as a corrective as well as an educative platform by identifying the acts of omission and commission.

An objective, quantified grading system of performance appraisal is a major step in eliminating the culture of subjective personal likes and dislikes, the meeting was informed.

Under the mechanism, all complaints against NAB employees are scrutinized and investigated by CI&MT.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2016.