Despite facing human resource constraints, the bureau also prosecuted key graft cases. PHOTO: FILE
Following the example of developed countries, the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) biggest breakthroughs in 2012 was the shift in its focus from enforcement to prevention regime.
Despite facing human resource constraints, the bureau also prosecuted key graft cases, says the NAB report released on Friday.
Justifying the move, NAB Chairman Admiral (retd) Fasih Bokhari said that over the past 65 years, 59 types of ‘enforcement’ legislation has not worked as a tool for ridding the country of corruption.
Pakistan’s absolute corruption index remained unchanged at 2.5/10 since the inception of Transparency International Corruption Perception Index. This, the report states, is an indication of major systemic flaws in the constitutional, legislative, regulatory, and governance structure.
The prevention framework, which began in March 2012, complies with the standards set by the UN Convention against Corruption. Through prevention regime, organisations like NAB do not allow collusion of bureaucratic, political and private sector interests.
In a highly-politicised environment, the report states, NAB’s focus on prevention regime starts with the bureaucracy. “Regulators of the state need to be given support and independence from political and financial pressures.”
The legislative and regulatory structures of the state need to be reviewed to remove discretionary and service anomalies, the annual report states.
In order to allow greater autonomy to regional bureaus and ensure speedy process of decision making, the NAB chairman has delegated sufficient operational as well as administrative powers to directors general of regional bureaus, says the report.
NAB claims in its annual report to have recovered Rs25 billion in 2012 through voluntary returns and plea bargains.
It has formed several committees in major areas of governance in an attempt to improve performance on a sustainable basis. The bureau processed 7,889 complaints, completed 392 inquiries and filed 95 references in accountability courts. According the report, the influx of complaints multiplied as the bureau received 7,565 complaints reaching a total of 9,353 complaints, including the existing backlog of 1,788.
The report reveals that NAB authorised 232 fresh inquiries, raising pendency to 978, including the backlog of 746 inquiries. Out of total investigation cases, 147 have been finalised while the rest are in process.
During the year, NAB recommended the placement of 192 accused on the Exit Control List (ECL) through the interior ministry.
The bureau has titled the year 2013 ‘Consolidation Year’ in order to amalgamate initiatives and strategies formulated by incumbent NAB Chairman, with specific references to awareness, prevention, training, development and welfare measures for employees.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 18th, 2013.
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Hats off to NAB. It is doing a highly commendable job. Recovery volume of 25 billion Rupees only in 2012 is very impressive. NAB should be shielded from undue political influence by granting it further autonomy.