The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has so far recovered Rs 326 billion from the corrupt elements and deposited into the national exchequer.
“The incumbent chairman immediately after taking over the responsibilities raised the slogans of “Accountability for All’ and ‘Faith of NAB – Corruption-Free Pakistan’ and transformed the anti-graft watchdog into a reliable and authentic institution,” a NAB official said. “Supreme Court handed over investigations of Panama Papers, 56 Punjab Public Limited companies, 435 offshore companies and fake accounts case to NAB,” he said.
He said 640 culprits were apprehended, 610 corruption references were filed against the corrupt elements in the recent years. Right now 1,210 references involving corruption of Rs 900 billion are at different stages of hearing at various accountability courts, he revealed, and added that NAB has so far received over 408,431 applications, authorized 14,069 complaint verifications, 9,400 inquiries, 4,122 investigations besides arresting 3,813 persons and filing 3,488 corruption references in different accountability courts.
The official said NAB has become a role model for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries. Pakistan was the first chairman of SAARC Anti-Corruption Forum. The NAB has also inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China for elimination of corruption.
The official said a standard grading system has been introduced in bureau for evaluating annual performance of its officers. The regional staff is regularly conveyed about the merits and demerits of their performances and also told to overcome their shortcomings. An effective monitoring and evaluation system has also been introduced in NAB for improving its working.
The official said NAB has a fixed 10-month time to complete the process right from initiating the investigation to filing a reference against the suspect. The conviction ratio of NAB was 70 percent last year. He said NAB has reinvigorated its prosecution and operation divisions by appointing new law officers, and has computerized the complaints and devised a mechanism to inform the complainants about the current status of their complaints.
He said NAB has arrested 43 accused persons allegedly involved in Mudarba and Muskarka scams. Some cases have already been decided by the relevant courts. NAB has returned over Rs 200 million to the effectees of various fake housing societies. He said NAB has also recovered 6,000 kanal land, 10 houses, 12 precious vehicles, besides filing 28 corruption references in accountability courts and returning the recovered money to effectees.
