National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal on Thursday sought business community’s cooperation in his endeavour to eradicate corruption from the society.
Addressing Chamber of Commerce and Industry Lahore, he said he was making all out efforts to eradicate corruption from the society without caring about powerful mafias having unprecedented stories on their credit. “The business community should extend moral support to NAB against its fight against corruption.”
Rejecting one-sided accountability allegations against the bureau, the chairman said that there was no need of NAB if everyone should ensures self-accountability. He said the bureau has constituted a committee, having representation of all stakeholders, for resolving business community issues.
He asked business community to concentrate on their business as the bureau believes in performing its duties in collaboration with business community and therefore no need to worry as the bureau was business friendly institution. He said NAB has not pursued any case of tax evasion and no plan to pursue in future also and such cases were being referred to FBR.
NAB does not take direct action in bank default cases but State Bank refers cases to NAB. Banks take action against businessmen in case of default. He was reviewing the case of Iqbal Z Ahmed personally. Business community was playing pivotal role in economic prosperity of the country. The people providing jobs to hundreds of people would not be harassed. He said NAB was pursuing the cases of the people who were penniless in 1980, but today they owned multistory buildings. “From where they got the money? They were summoned in NAB with respect and do not hurt them during investigations. NAB was taking action against the people who remained in government for 35 years. The untouchables of past were behind the bars as nobody was above the law. Media should confirm news about NAB before airing or publishing it.”
The chairman answered the queries of businessmen and industrialists. NAB has no affiliation with the incumbent government as the bureau has allegiance with Pakistan, which has given the chairman unmatched honour and prestige. NAB has filed cases against powerful persons. The remaining cases of Panama Papers were at different stages of hearing. Early action was taken on the information received on the cases a bit earlier.
Brushing aside the allegations of overstepping, he said bureau was a people-friendly institution and conducting accountability without any discrimination. NAB was to serve people and not to intimidate them. NAB was patriot. NAB files cases after complete investigation and inquiries. Representatives of the across country chamber of commerce and industry would be included in the committee. He said special desks have already been established in NAB headquarters and regional offices to facilitate business community.
No complaint was received in last 4 months and 28 days to desks by the business community. The desks have been directed to resolve businessmen complaints within 24 hours. Failing which chairman himself resolves their issue within three days period. He said income tax and sales tax cases of business community have already been referred to Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). He said the NAB only considers the case not the face. The country was indebted up to Rs100 billion, one perturbs where the money had been spent as economy was in shambles, no beds in hospitals, students were being denied admissions in universities.
NAB has no role in ruining of country’s economy. Convicting or freeing suspects rest with the courts. A bike rider amassed wealth and made towers in Dubai.
Talking about allegations of no major recovery was made by NAB, he said it was very difficult to prove white collar crimes as the crime was committed in one city and property exists somewhere else. NAB has to work while remaining within the law, he can make recoveries within three weeks period, if granted absolute powers. He can’t arrest a person without any reason even for four hours.
He said there was a difference between tax evasion and money laundering. NAB respects the dignity of complainants. NAB has no case of tax evasion as both were separate things. He has never approved plea bargain or signed arrest warrants of any suspect without verification. He said NAB has recovered Rs71 billion during the last 22 months and overall recovery of bureau since inception was Rs342 billion. Criticising fake housing societies, he said the housing societies have plundered the poor persons by posting alluring advertisements despite having no or little land. He said every case of poor person was mega case for him, fake housing societies looted their life earned money without any remorse.
Business community also expressed its satisfaction and lauded the role of chairman and pledged continue playing role in progress of the country. Senior Vice President SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iftikhar Ali Malik and Senior Vice President of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Lahore, Director General NAB, Lahore, Shahzad Saleem were also present.
