NAB defends payment of allowances

ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau has said that the payment of allowances and honoraria granted to the NAB employees worth Rs 1.7 billion during former President Musharraf's era was in compliance with the NAB Recovery and Reward Rules 2002.

This statement came as a response to Law Minister Babar Awan's claim that these allowances were in negation to the rules.

According to a NAB official, who refuted the law minister's statement, these rules were made in accordance with due process of law and notified in the gazette of Pakistan on September 26, 2002.

Section 33-A of the NAO says that there may be paid bonuses or ex-gratia{Payments} to the officers and staff of the NAB, other government servants, public servants and rewards to members of public for rendering commendable services in detection, investigation and prosecution of {any offence under this Ordinance} as may be prescribed by the rules.

The official said that 20% of the NAB share was also made available for undertaking welfare measures for NAB's employees and the same has been done.