THE Supreme Court has shown its dissatisfaction with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) report on the progress of the 150 mega corruption cases, involving hundreds of millions of rupees.

The list implicates, among others, nearly all the big names of the past and the present political leadership, including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, three ex-prime ministers and ex-President Asif Ali Zardari.

Although everyone is aware that billions of rupees have been transferred abroad, and expensive properties purchased in foreign countries, the accused claim that all the cases against them are politically motivated and that they have never indulged in corruption.

Do the judges of the Supreme Court think that the present NAB setup, dependent on the government-controlled investigating agencies, is capable of fulfilling its responsibility and task? Chances are bleak.

Corruption and terrorism are the two most dreadful and fatal threats facing the country today. These are inter-related and they must be tackled by bold, intrepid and audacious planning and action.

Like the National Action Plan for counter-terrorism, a similar action plan against corruption should be evolved. An all-party conference should be called to agree on the terms and references for an independent accountability setup with its own investigation wing. The accountability organisation so evolved should be fully independent.

An effective and impartial accountability organisation, enjoying the people’s trust, will save the government from threats and blackmail by opposition parties and other strong non-political groups and bodies when the government has to take action against them.

M.B

Lahore

(2)

AT last the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has submitted a selective list of alleged corrupt politicians and state employees who misused their authority for personal benefits and robbed the taxpayers’ of their money.

The question is: why was the NAB chairman not able to complete the investigation of a number of cases in a decade? The Sharif brothers’ case of misusing the authority was first reported in 2000, and after 15 years its investigation is still going on.

When will it be proved that they have diverted the public money on building roads and laying gas pipelines to their residence in Raiwind? What about the salaries paid to persons working at their estate?

I suggest all those who are being accused of corruption should be asked to undertake a lie detector test to prove their innocence. Besides, morality demands that all those named by NAB should step down from their positions till they are proved not guilty.

Tasaduq Hussain

Lahore

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2015

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