NAB chief to review cases of Dr Asim, Sharjeel

Justice Iqbal affirms bureau will not follow a policy of discrimination

ISLAMABAD: NAB will not, as a matter of policy, resort to discrimination and it remains to be seen if there is any bias in dealing with cases of Dr Asim Hussain and Sharjeel Inam Memon, NAB chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal said on Monday.

“NAB will not follow a policy of discrimination. I have sought record of cases relating to Dr Asim and Sharjeel Inam Memon to ascertain if discrimination is committed at any level … at NAB,” a press statement issued by the bureau quoted its chairman as saying.

Earlier, Justice Iqbal chaired a meeting here at NAB headquarters to review the performance of the bureau’s prosecution department.

“As the acting chief justice of Pakistan, I followed a policy of ‘justice for all’. Now, NAB will follow a policy of accountability for all in letter and spirit,” the chairman reportedly told the meeting’s participants.

Earlier, PPP leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah, expressed reservations after NAB arrested Sindh’s former information minister Sharjeel Inam Memon in a corruption reference.

“NAB has nothing to do with the issuance of non-bailable arrest warrant against Memon … He is facing a corruption reference, and NAB only followed the court’s decision,” the NAB chief clarified.

Khurshid Shah requested the NAB chief to take action on Sharjeel Memon’s arrest by NAB.

“Legal implications of allegations (about Memon’s arrest) must be investigated,” he said.

“From now onwards, references will only be filed based on facts, evidence, and in accordance with the law.”

He said that the overall conviction ratio had gone up because of constant monitoring of the prosecution division.

Asking workers to work diligently and without any fear, he assured the prosecution staff that he would personally assess their service and salary structure and protect their rights.

Justice Iqbal said that NAB was the only organization which had prescribed a maximum timeframe – from complaint verification to inquiry to investigation and filing a reference in the accountability court for quick disposal of all cases, including cases involving white-collar crimes.

Reiterating the bureau’s commitment to root out corruption, the NAB chief said that the bureau welcomed any positive suggestions to improve its performance.