Counterfeit material: Senior officials irked as media publishes fake NAB letters
Bureau says false statements are being issued to give officials a bad name.
"This is the second time such a statement has been published and I wonder why this is done without confirmation of authenticity," NAB official, requesting anonymity. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
Dubious letters allegedly issued by a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) office are available and published in local dailies without being probed, officials said.
The fake letters, displaying a well-coordinated set of computer skills, are printed on the NAB letterhead and can hardly be distinguished as counterfeits. They bear all the required details including the bureau’s logo along with landline, fax and UAN numbers. Additionally, e-mail addresses along with the NAB’s location in the federal capital are also given.
A recent press statement, supposedly issued by the NAB’s Islamabad office, panicked three senior Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa officials when it was published in various local dailies without being confirmed. The letter asked for the named officials’ details.
“It (the letter) has given me a bad name as I have never been involved in corrupt practices,” said one of the three officials, requesting anonymity. “I have not received any letter from NAB,” he added.
The official further revealed this was not the first time he was defamed as an analogous situation arose earlier when a statement of a similar nature was published after he refused to meet someone’s demands.
“I know these people very well,” said the official. “They met me at my office with a wish list in their hands. I honestly could not fulfill their demands and in response they did this.” The official pointed out he would have been personally contacted by NAB officials if the bureau had anything to do with the situation.
When contacted, a NAB provincial chapter official confirmed the dubious status of the press statement bearing the bureau’s letterhead and thought to be issued by the NAB’s Islamabad office.
“This is the second time such a statement has been published in local dailies and I wonder why this is done without attaining confirmation of authenticity,” said the official while talking to The Express Tribune. He added all relevant data was available on NAB’s website and one could easily prepare such statements.
He also alleged such statements were published to take revenge once an official refused someone’s demands.
NAB Deputy Prosecutor General Jamil Khan said statements such as these had earlier been published by different newspapers and bore the names of senior officials. He too added the letters were found to be fraudulent. “We will probe the issue,” said Khan.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2013.
Dubious letters allegedly issued by a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) office are available and published in local dailies without being probed, officials said.
The fake letters, displaying a well-coordinated set of computer skills, are printed on the NAB letterhead and can hardly be distinguished as counterfeits. They bear all the required details including the bureau’s logo along with landline, fax and UAN numbers. Additionally, e-mail addresses along with the NAB’s location in the federal capital are also given.
A recent press statement, supposedly issued by the NAB’s Islamabad office, panicked three senior Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa officials when it was published in various local dailies without being confirmed. The letter asked for the named officials’ details.
“It (the letter) has given me a bad name as I have never been involved in corrupt practices,” said one of the three officials, requesting anonymity. “I have not received any letter from NAB,” he added.
The official further revealed this was not the first time he was defamed as an analogous situation arose earlier when a statement of a similar nature was published after he refused to meet someone’s demands.
“I know these people very well,” said the official. “They met me at my office with a wish list in their hands. I honestly could not fulfill their demands and in response they did this.” The official pointed out he would have been personally contacted by NAB officials if the bureau had anything to do with the situation.
When contacted, a NAB provincial chapter official confirmed the dubious status of the press statement bearing the bureau’s letterhead and thought to be issued by the NAB’s Islamabad office.
“This is the second time such a statement has been published in local dailies and I wonder why this is done without attaining confirmation of authenticity,” said the official while talking to The Express Tribune. He added all relevant data was available on NAB’s website and one could easily prepare such statements.
He also alleged such statements were published to take revenge once an official refused someone’s demands.
NAB Deputy Prosecutor General Jamil Khan said statements such as these had earlier been published by different newspapers and bore the names of senior officials. He too added the letters were found to be fraudulent. “We will probe the issue,” said Khan.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2013.