Daily Times

Whenever and wherever there is anargument over Accountability, what instantly pops-up into our brains is National Accountability Bureau (NAB) because of its supremacy over other accountability related Institutions which the Bureau enjoys as being theapex national anti-corruption watchdog. Although, there are few more bodies working with almost same mandate but apparently contribute very little in eradication of corruption from society and Country, as well. Throughout the year2019, an active NAB was witnessed as was in 2018 through which the Bureau successfully rejuvenatedits lost image of being prime anti-corruption body which is now working with a dignified commitment and a thorough approach of “Accountability for All” and “Shafaf Pakistan; NAB kay Saath” etc. In the sense of NAB’s activism year 2019 will be remembered by different stake holders of society.

After assuming the Chairmanship of NAB in 2017, Justice (R) Javed Iqbal literally proved that being the custodian of an Institution with such a gigantic powers he sees “Cases not Faces” during holding Accountability drive. Moreover, what NAB’s Regional Chapter ofPunjab discloses in an annual performance report issued recently is tremendous and admirable that under the leadership and vision of Justice Javed Iqbal the curator of Regional Bureau Shahzad Saleem talks big by claiming huge recoveries from corrupt elements worth Billions in one year span and sets an acute instance for other accountability organizationsoperational in Country. There are numerous political and other prominent figures that directly or indirectly paid back fishy backups into National kitty. Take an example of former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, of whom a banglow located at Gulberg, Lahore has been officially handed over to provincial government as part of an indirect recovery by the Lahore Bureau which has been handed over to provincial government while another Rs500 Million was also recovered from Mr. Dar’s Bank Accounts and the same was submitted into government exchequer-is being considered as a direct recovery but regrettably this was not reported to the extent that deserved in Columns,Articles, news write-ups or talk shows etc.For me recovery through holding Plea Bargain (PB) is genuinely the logical or beneficial gain and also as an achievement for the Bureau, if considered so. Incarceration for years as a punishment without any recoveryactually doesn’t benefit Stateorits citizens but having recovered all the looted money from them can be beneficial for both the public and the State. A sharp 500 percent annual increase in Recoveries (Direct and indirect) since 2016 onwards has been shown by NAB Punjab with an average performance of Rs 39 Billion/ year is not less than placing an elephant in a room or putting a camel into a tri-cycle.

“Accountability for All” and is on the way to break the chain of corruption. Mr. Accountability (Justice Javed Iqbal) has proved himself as an individual who doesn’t bow down before any kind of pressure or give soft shoulder to favoritism

Furthermore, one thing is as clear as crystal that if we want to enforce and establish a culture of accountability into our society then this starts with ourselves and our homes. Primarily, everyone is accountable to himself, later to theNationand finally tohis Country. We are accountable for every failure and although for every breakdown. When we look to hold officials accountable we can’t play favorites and let it slide with choosing people (as generally claimed by some political circles), accountability and justice has to be all the time consistent and across the board; if someone chooses to let any influentialto ignore theaccountability drive then it opens the doors for others to be selectively accountable, too”.

NAB is a National Institutionand an asset too as the Bureau is paid by the tax money of general public whereby all its actions and initiatives are expected to be for the national cause. NAB Punjab made numerous prominent arrests during last two years in ongoing corruption cases viz Abdul Aleem Khan from the ruling party was arrested in February 2019 for allegedly owing assets beyond his known sources of income who is currently on bail. In June, Hon’ble High Court cancelled pre-arrest bail of PML-N leader and provincial opposition leader Hamza Shahbaz Sharif in Ramzan Sugar Mills Scam and later the arrest was extended into another case of allegedly pilling up assets beyond his known sources of income and also alleged involvement in money laundering. Few days later on June 14, another PTI provincial minister Sibtain Khan got arrested by NAB on charges of corruption and illegal award of mining contract worth billions to a firm having low capacity to ascertain this mega Project. In August 2019, physical custody of accused Maryam Nawaz was taken by NAB Lahore for allegedly being involved in the acts of corruption and corrupt practices as defined under Section 9(a) of NAO, 1999 and Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) 2010 as she allegedly aided and abetted co-accused persons in acquisition and laundering the funds which were actually disproportionate to her known and declared sources of income. She is knowingly also a beneficial of assets being disproportionate to known sources of income of the other family members. Final major arrest was made in October this year of former PML-N President and three time former Prime Minister,Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in a case of Chaudhary Sugar Mills. One thing can be inferred from above nabbing details that gone are the days when it was the talk of the town that NAB only takes cognizance against Patwaris and some common accused whether from government machinery or on private capacity, today, no one is above law and each and every one is accountable for his deeds. NAB has proactively adopted the policy of “Accountability for All” and is on the way to break the chain of corruption. Mr. Accountability (Justice Javed Iqbal) has proved himself as an individual who doesn’t bow down before any kind of pressure or give soft shoulder to favoritism.

Recently Transparency International (TI) issued Corruption Perception Index (CPI) annual report 2019 that apparently reduced Pakistan’s collective score from 33 to 32 and dropped its ranking from 117 to 120 on a year-on-year basis. Much hue and cry rose to malign sitting government while appreciation of Accountability supervisory bodywas astutely over sighted. Recovery of Rs152 Billion in one year is not a child’s play while filing of 530 References in Courts involving billions of rupees whereby showing 70% conviction rate in the Accountability Courts is also a herculean task. Almost every forum of NAB was discussed in appreciative angle including Awareness and Prevention (A&P) Wing by denouncing commendable the effective media campaign to aware people about ill effects of corruption. So, as a Nation we should not be pessimistic but ought to opt for becoming optimistic about our National Institutions until and unless some substantial and non-political arguments are proven.

The writer is freelancer