NAB chairman says won’t bow to pressure

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal said the bureau wouldn’t accept any pressure despite of slander and vile propaganda against the accountability watchdog and would continue work on merit.

“The bureau should be censured constructively but the criticism shouldn’t be based on mere accusations,” said Iqbal while addressing a gathering in Lahore on Wednesday.

Referring to the allegations for deaths in the custody of the NAB, Iqbal said the time of death was fixed and it could happen anywhere. However, he said the issue was being propagated.

The NAB chairman also responded to the complaints of the business community, saying the country’s businessmen had not faced any issues so far due to the NAB.

“The stock exchange will not boom, if the business community has issues with the NAB,” said Iqbal, adding the difference between the NAB and judicial custody needed to be understood.

He maintained the NAB strived to ensure complete implementation of the rule of law; the bureau aimed to compensate victims immediately; and its purpose was not to publicise any action.

For the first time in history of the country, an amount of Rs2.5 billion was recovered from the accused and distributed among victims under the plea bargain in a short span of two years, said the NAB chief.

Iqbal noted everyone's self-esteem was taken care of in the bureau as its mission was to serve people.

Briefing on the process of the accountability, Iqbal said an accused was produced before the court, immediately after the arrest, where his remand was provided on the basis of the evidence.

“In white collar crime cases, the 90-day remand of the accused is not granted in one go but it is provided on the basis of the evidence. For which the court has to be satisfied and the case has to be proved in principle,” said the NAB chief.

It was important to fully aware of the facts and knowledge of the law as far as NAB cases are concerned, he said, adding mere criticism was not appropriate.

He maintained the bureau recovered hefty sums of money from the people who couldn’t be looked up to in the past.

“Favoritisms and threats are being stopped outside the NAB,” he added.