NAB does not pursue tax evasion cases: Javed Iqbal

Javed Iqbal assures businessmen of addressing concerns

KARACHI: There is a difference between tax evasion and money laundering, and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has not pursued any case of tax evasion, said NAB Chairman Javed Iqbal.

Addressing the business community during his visit to the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Thursday, he said such cases were referred to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

He clarified that NAB did not take direct action in cases pertaining to bank default, but the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) referred such cases to the accountability watchdog.

Iqbal said NAB always respected the business community as it was the backbone of development and prosperity in the country. The NAB chief pointed out that a six-member committee had been constituted under Section 33-C of the NAB Ordinance 1999 to address reservations of the business community.

The committee had been tasked with preparing recommendations to address issues of the business community, he added. Its recommendations will be reviewed by a three-member committee comprising the NAB deputy chairman, NAB prosecutor general accountability and NAB director general operations.

The NAB committee, after review, will forward its final recommendations to the chairman. The chairman will issue directives for resolution of the issues of the business community.

The businessmen committee has also been mandated to forward its recommendations directly to the NAB chairman for consideration as per law.

The chairman said the committee would work to resolve issues of the businessmen with mutual understanding and according to the law, and the chairman’s decision on the matter would be final.

He added that complaints about any reference already filed would not be considered. The businessmen committee will be of consultative nature and it has nothing to do with the powers conferred on NAB.

Talking about eradication of corruption, Iqbal said NAB was taking action against those who were allegedly corrupt and were untouchable in the past.

“We will bring them to justice and recover the looted money of innocent people and deposit it in the national exchequer,” he added.

The NAB chairman, while answering queries of businessmen, said the anti-corruption watchdog had no affiliation with any party, group or individual as NAB’s first and foremost priority was the progress and prosperity of the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2019.

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