‘NAB won’t take any step that hurts economy’

Graft-buster chairman says only a fraction of cases being investigated by NAB involves bureaucrats

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) would not take any step that might adversely affect the country’s economy, the graft buster’s chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal said on Tuesday.

“The bureaucracy plays a major role in running the government. There was solid evidence against the bureaucrats who faced NAB action. NAB would never take any step that would dent the [country’s] economy,” Iqbal maintained while addressing bureaucrats at the Civil Secretariat Lahore.

The NAB chairman said a false impression was being created that the bureaucracy had stopped working because of NAB’s actions.

“In reality, of the thousands of cases being investigated by NAB, only a fraction of them involves bureaucrats,” he added.

“This propaganda is aimed at hurling false allegations against NAB and demoralising bureaucracy. NAB believes in respecting each person and following the law.”



The NAB chairman said the bureaucracy’s loyalty should only be towards Pakistan, and not any political party. “Every bureaucrat should work for the benefit of the country.”

Iqbal observed that if bureaucrats worked in accordance with the law, NAB would not need to pursue cases against them.

He assured bureaucrats that whenever a complaint against a secretary or additional secretary was received next time, he would personally look into the case. The regional office of NAB would not arrest any officer of grade-19 or above at its own discretion and first seek permission. Besides, no officer would be handcuffed.

He also promised the same treatment for retired bureaucrats. “If needed, a questionnaire would be sent to them,” he added.

“NAB is carrying out the accountability drive without any discrimination and nobody would be subjected to injustice.”

The NAB chairman also appointed a focal person for communication between the graft-buster and the bureaucracy.

Iqbal informed the audience that NAB had deposited Rs33 billion into the national exchequer so far.

At the conclusion of the event, the NAB chairman handed over documents of a property worth Rs1 billion to Punjab Chief Secretary Yousaf Naseem. The property was recovered through plea bargaining.