Lacunae in laws cause of graft: NAB official

DG says task of NAB is to end corruption, not to impede progress

QUETTA: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Balochistan Director General Farman Ullah Khan has said NAB is working on merit without fear and pressure to uproot corruption which, according to him, has been plaguing the country since independence.

"Following the chairman’s policy, NAB takes up case based on merit, irrespective of who is involved in graft," the DG said on Thursday while addressing an event organised at the Civil Secretariat on Thursday to celebrate anti-corruption week.

Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal, Adviser to CM on Sports Abdul Khaliq Hazara, Chief Secretary Fazeel Asghar, Additional IG Akram Naeem, Balochistan Anti-Corruption Establishment Director Ayaz Ahmed Baloch were also present on the occasion.

The DG defended the plea bargain provision of the NAB law and said plea bargain is legal procedure to recover the looted money, which is in favour of the public.  He said corruption has been damaging the country’s economy and social fabric since independence.

“Few black sheep can corrupt the entire system. The system needs to be strengthened to prevent corrupt elements. Corruption is contradictory to human values, moral traditions and religious principles," the DG said.

He cited mismanagement and bad governance as the basis of corruption and emphasized the need to strengthen the system.  He regretted that some corrupt elements have infiltrated the entire system.

“The task of NAB is to remove corruption from the country and not to impede national development. NAB Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal has said in his policy statements that NAB will not be part of any design which could hamper development works,” he said.  He said defects in the existing laws, rules and regulations are the cause of corruption.

“It is the government's responsibility to improve and reform the existing laws so that the system is strengthened. NAB is always ready to cooperate with the Balochistan government,” he said.

The DG made it clear that NAB is committed to the intellectual development and reform of society. "We believe that by changing attitudes and thinking, we can eliminate corruption, injustice, misuse of public resources, and all other social evils," the DG said.

“NAB Balochistan adheres to its strategy of strengthening institutions with its three-pronged strategy. The present government and NAB's efforts will not only ensure that the development process in Balochistan can be adapted to the rules and regulations," he said.

Khan said NAB enjoys full cooperation of the chief minister and chief secretary in all legal proceedings against corrupt elements. NAB, together with the public and the government, is working to end corruption in the country, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2019.