NAB has nothing to do with politics, says Javed Iqbal

Rebuffs impression that accountability watchdog taking actions only in Punjab

LAHORE: Rejecting allegations of partiality, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chief Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal has said NAB is an autonomous institution which has no connection with politics.

“The bureau will continue playing its accountability role under the law. It is a wrong impression that the accountability watchdog is taking actions only in Punjab and has given freehand in other provinces,” Iqbal said on Thursday while addressing affectees of Lahore’s Eden Housing.

“The anti-graft body is taking action wherever alleged corruption surfaces. However, sometime it requires time to meet legal obligation,” he added.  Iqbal said times had changed and now the rulers could be held accountable for their acts.



“Today we can ask rulers where they have spent the taxpayers’ money. What is the harm if we ask rulers why they spent Rs5,000 when the job was of Rs500. Why they spent Rs50 million when the project requires Rs500,000. It is the right of public to ask rulers about the use of public money,” he said.

NAB chairman said the anti-graft body, however, would never harass innocents. “We are not here to harass anybody. However, NAB notices should be taken serious, these are not invitations,” he said.

Javed Iqbal said nearly 80 per cent complaints that the bureau received are about housing societies.

“If development agencies were doing their jobs properly, the situation would be different today. There are people who had given bribe of Rs200 million to get no objection certificate (NOC) for their housing colonies and looted public through attractive advertisements,” he added.

Iqbal said ‘Double Shah’ like cases emerge only in Pakistan, adding, however, that the anti-corruption watchdog was discharging its duties efficiently. “We are answerable to Allah Almighty and playing our role as per law,” he added.

NAB chairman said the bureau had received over 11,000 complaints against Eden Housing. The NAB was taking action on each and every application and would recover each looted penny. However, these cases might require some extra time owing to legal regal requirements.



The anti-graft body, he highlighted, had requested the government to put names of the Eden Housing management on the exit control list (ECL). It has reminded the caretaker government twice or thrice, in this regard.

“Rest assure the absconders cannot hide anywhere in the world. NAB will bring them back and recover the looted money. The law has empowered the bureau to seek Interpol’s help or to issue red warrants of the culprits,” he added.

Justice Iqbal said NAB has already frozen Rs20 billion worth assets of Eden Housing management. “There is no chance of negligence on the part of the NAB and the bureau will leave no stone unturned to recover looted money,” he added. Earlier, NAB Lahore Director General Shahzad Saleem gave detailed briefing to the chairman about various corruption cases.