Daily Times

Justice Javed Iqbal Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Tuesday said that bureaucracy is like the backbone of the country as it has very important role in country’s progress and prosperity.

Addressing bureaucrats at Civil Secretariat, Lahore, he said he was well aware of Bureaucracy’s problems as he has already served the country on important positions including in Supreme Court of Pakistan.

He said NAB was established in 1999 and he was working as chairman for the last 17 months.

NAB was an independent institution and strengthened institution makes the country powerful.

It was propagated that bureaucracy was not working due to NAB’s scare. On scrutiny of hundreds of cases, it came to light that the cases against bureaucracy were very few. The main aim of such propaganda was to discourage bureaucracy and attributing baseless allegations on bureaucracy.

He said NAB believes honouring self esteem of every person besides resolving bureaucracy’s true reservations as per law.NAB was a national institution, assigned the responsibilities of recovering the looted money from corrupt elements.

NAB has deposited record Rs 303 billion in national exchequer after recovering from the corrupt.

No arrested official of Grade 19 to be handcuffed

He said we are all occupying important positions due to Pakistan. We owe a lot to the country and must pay back to our beloved country.We should work together for progress of country and eradication of corruption from the country.

He said NAB and bureaucracy do not have any affiliations with any group/party/individual or political party. Our affiliation is only with Pakistan. He asked bureaucracy to take decisions by upholding country’s interests. Governments may come and go but state of Pakistan to exist for ever. Bureaucracy should serve the people. Bureaucracy should believe in God instead of fearing punishment.Supreme Court also preserves the rights of bureaucrats.

NAB could not summon bureaucrats on honestly working. Ministries and Divisions should devise a transparent system , NAB could not point finger over any deal.

He said investigation and other working of NAB have improved significantly.

He said he has deposited to personally review the complaints received against Secretary, additional secretary sitting and retired bureaucrats and questionnaire would be sent to them of need arises.NAB was pursuing the policy of accountability for all and injustice will not be done with anyone.

He investigations of white collar crimes needs time and utmost care.

Punjab chief secretary Yousaf Naseem said the address of chairman has increased confidence of bureaucracy. He thanked the chairman for answering queries with arguments and appointing focus person for maintaining close liaison with bureaucracy.

Chairman handed over a cheque of Rs 1 billion property to chief secretary Punjab.The property had been recovered from a company out of 56 companies through plea bargain.

He said NAB was indiscriminately doing Accountability for all. I n Justice will not be done with anyone.Chief secretary thanked the chairman for recovering the property.

Justice (rtd) Javed Iqbal barred NAB officials from handcuffing accused persons in the bureau’s custody.

He addressed high ranked officials at Punjab’s Civil Secretariat where he emphasised on significance of bureaucracy and termed it “the backbone of the country.”

“In the previous year, several mega corruption cases emerged in Punjab,” he said, while asking if bureaucracy does not take decisions, how the bureau could proceed [with the investigation process].

He maintained that the government drafts policies; however “it is the bureaucracy’s responsibility to implement those policies.” “[The bureau] has conducted inquiries against the accused persons based on solid evidence and I will prove them correct,” he said.