NAB chief underscores NAB’s neutrality

Justice (retd) Iqbal says bureau does not resort to violence to extract confessions

LAHORE: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal has said that the bureau does not believe in any kind of violence as a tool for extracting information, and that solving white-collar crime is based on the investigative ability and solid evidence, for which its investigation officers undergo regular training courses.

The anti-corruption chief said this during his visit to the bureau’s Lahore office on Wednesday, where he was given a detailed briefing on progress made on mega corruption cases by NAB Lahore Director General Shahzad Saleem and his team. Justice (retd) Iqbal also addressed investigation officers and prosecutors during his visit.

In his address, he said that mega corruption cases were a priority for the anti-corruption watchdog, while underscoring the need to ensure that they are conducted according to the Constitution and as per law.

“NAB investigation officers should bring investigations to logical end through due process in accordance with the law based purely on evidence and merit,” he said.



He said the bureau’s purpose is the immediate recovery of national wealth from corrupt elements and to submit the same in national treasury, while NAB's first priority is to establish corrupt elements before justice.

Speaking about the fake accounts case, he said the bureau had been given a major responsibility as the Supreme Court had transferred the case to NAB, which incriminates major figures of politics and bureaucracy. He added that NAB officers should take full care regarding the quality of the evidence to fulfill the trust reposed by the top court.

He also reiterated the bureau’s neutrality, saying it was had no association or relation with any political party, and that its commitment was only to Pakistan and its people.

He emphasised the need to preserve the personal dignity of the accused, and added that was the reason NAB provided more facilities to those arrested that required by the regular jail manual.

He added that it is the bureau’s responsibility to treat each case on merit without caring for any kind of fear and pressure, and to close the case without any delay where the facts do not merit proceeding further.

In line with instructions of the NAB chairman, a complaint desk has been set up in all regional bureaus, where the director along with his staff will listen to complainants for an hour on a daily basis.