NAB’s probe: Committee to restore watchdog’s credibility

ISLAMABAD:

In an apparent move to restore the credibility of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), after the Supreme Court castigated the institution for being biased in investigating the Arsalan Iftikhar case, chairman of the corruption watchdog has ordered an internal inquiry into the matter.

NAB Chairman Admiral (retd) Fasih Bokhari formed a three-member committee to investigate the circumstances under which adverse remarks were given by the SC against the institution in a recent judgment pertaining to the Arsalan Iftikhar-Malik Riaz case.

In its August 30 judgment, the court expressed its dissatisfaction with the Bureau for constituting a commission that included members who had an apparent bias against Dr Arsalan Iftikhar, who is accused of drawing financial benefits from real estate tycoon Malik Riaz.

The court also took exception to the fact that NAB was taking dictations from Attorney General Irfan Qadir in the investigation process.

“The three-member committee has been mandated to find lapses on the part of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) in the case. The committee will recommend remedial measures to avoid recurrence of such a situation in future proceedings,” said a press statement issued by NAB’s media office.

A senior director of the bureau will head the committee and will look into the probe conducted by the JIT.

Chairman NAB directed the committee to submit a report within 10 days.

The committee will probe the matter with special reference to paras 21 and 25 of the detailed judgment in the said case. These paras relate to the role of members of the JIT and a police officer Faisal Bashir Memon.

Apex court’s move

In its order, the court questioned NAB’s role in the case and the two letters it addressed to the SC registrar.

The apex court has taken away the investigations from NAB and constituted a one-member commission to investigate the matter afresh. It directed NAB to hand over all available records pertaining to the case to the commission.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2012.