NAB cannot be dictated: Javed Iqbal

NAB chairman takes a jibe at Zardari, says anti-graft body and corruption cannot go hand-in-hand

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Javed Iqbal refuted claims of accountability laws being a 'black law' and condemned former governments for not abolishing the legislation if they considered it objectionable.

Addressing a gathering in Multan, Iqbal maintained that the top accountability "could not be dictated" and that the bureau was executing tasks as per law.

On NAB being termed 'black law', the chairman called out previous rulers for being hypocritical and said that it was 'convenient' to criticise now that those who ruled before were being prosecuted under the very legislation.

"The Supreme Court would have abolished the accountability watchdog had it been practising under 'black' law," he retorted.

Defending the country's top watchdog, Iqbal said that the NAB was well within the constitutional framework to operate and its primary objective is to bring back the nation's looted wealth. He pinned blame on corruption, adding that "the country would not be knee-deep in debts if past leaders had not multiplied their wealth through illegal means".

"The NAB and corruption cannot go hand-in-hand," he said taking an apparent jibe at former president Asif Ali Zardari who in a previous interview had stated that NAB and economy cannot function together.

On plea bargains, the bureau's chairman maintained that it needs improvement. He said that a common man's interest could not be served without thorough laws in regards to striking plea deals.