‘Names of accused in corruption cases cannot be made public’

E-Paper | June 16, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has said that the names of accused in corruption cases pending with the National Accountability Bureau cannot be made public.

In reply to a question submitted to the National Assembly secretariat by MNA Saifullah Magsi about charges against the accused, the minister quoted section 78 (e) and 78 (u) of the constitution and said: “Names of persons facing pending cases cannot be disclosed.”

He, however, gave details about the number of pending cases and their nature. He said 1,259 cases were pending with the NAB. Of these 984 are at the stage of inquiry and 275 at investigation level.

The minister said pending cases were related to corruption, including misuse of authority by public office holders, cheating public at large, bank loan default, misappropriation of public money, embezzlement of government funds and illegal gratification. The NAB chairman is unhappy over non-disposal of cases and recently chalked out an action plan to address the issue.

A NAB spokesman said that a circular had been sent to the regional units of NAB, expressing concern that despite spending the taxpayer’s money the bureau had failed to lower the pendency rate. Over 300 cases against politicians belonging to the PPP, PML-N, MQM and PML-Q, bureaucrats and businessmen are pending with the NAB.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2014

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Rajab Ali

Oct 31, 2014 08:52am

Why! Is your name is included in the list!

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Muhammad Farooq

Oct 31, 2014 09:08am

Care taker PM Moin Qureshi was able to publish lists of thousands and thousands of defaulters, why a government with such heavy mandate from people is unable to publish the names of those under investigation for corruption. If laws and rules don't allow, amend them as you do when you have your own vested interests involved.

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Khanm

Oct 31, 2014 09:14am

And they call them self as the champion of democracy. Folks. Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions. When there is no sharing of power, no rule of law, no accountability, there is abuse, corruption, subjugation.

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Syed

Oct 31, 2014 09:18am

Of course not Zar and Shar.

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Pakistani

Oct 31, 2014 09:19am

Public has a right to know who these persons are.

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Azam

Oct 31, 2014 09:30am

WOW, what a great service to the people of Pakistan. Keep up the good work and make sure never make any corrupt person to be public. Congrats Pakistanis, you have been served justice.

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nkhan

Oct 31, 2014 10:11am

NAB should be an autonomous body should expose all politicians.

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Ifti

Oct 31, 2014 10:20am

Why cant the names be made public, these people are public servants; politicians and bureaucrats should be relieved of their posts until their name is cleared. What sort of self-serving law is this.

Recommend 0

Sharjeel Bin Afzal

Oct 31, 2014 10:33am

All we need is to be honest with ourselves to be honest with the system and others.....

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Mohammad Ali

Oct 31, 2014 10:43am

O Allah save us from these Thugs!!!

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rehan

Oct 31, 2014 11:35am

Any why not ? Why this VIP treatment to corrupt persons ? India has sent 700 names or so of people involved in corruption to their Supreme Court. Differences aside , we need to acknowledge a good move , irrespective of whoever makes it !!!!

Recommend 0

What the?

Oct 31, 2014 11:42am

I wonder how much money He is going to Extort out of the Culprits?

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ishrat salim

Oct 31, 2014 12:42pm

guys do not forget that these articles 78 e & u has been included in 18th amendment of the constitution by PPP & PML N Reps, just like they included third terms for PM....where is democracy my friends ?....as IK always say...it is nothing but muk makao.

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Khanm

Oct 31, 2014 12:50pm

@nkhan If Nab is to be truly become an autonomous then they must take over that role of being their own guardian.

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Abbas Ali

Oct 31, 2014 12:50pm

Ha ha! Makes complete sense. Don't worry, we understand. All done in supreme national interest.

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Parvez

Oct 31, 2014 12:53pm

Ok....give us the names of those not on the list.....it will be shorter .

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Khanm

Oct 31, 2014 12:58pm

@Ifti do u really thing they are public servant or have ever behave like one.

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Khanm

Oct 31, 2014 01:05pm

@rehan. Cos the entire system considers them as vvip.

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Asif

Oct 31, 2014 01:43pm

What a country is that? These people have made laws for themselves and "by law" it is not allowed to shame those who put the people in misery and looted their hard earned money , is that a joke? These so called "public representatives" and their parliament needs the same treatment like it's happening today in "Burkina Faso".

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umair uz zubair

Oct 31, 2014 02:02pm

Why to hide the names? Once corruption is confirmed, the name of the person should be made public.

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Shafiq

Oct 31, 2014 02:07pm

@Muhammad Farooq It is disappointing that educated people do not understand the impact of corruption charges on falsely accused individuals. There is a time when such charges are made after thorough investigation and the accused is required to respond to the charges the names can be published. Even then what happens to the reputation of individuals who are proven innocent ? If justice got to be served then steps got to be taken to protect the good name of citizen. Most of the so-called leaders do not watch their words and blame others or corruption even when the cases have been settled and the individual is found not guilty. IK is in this scenario big time. Remember what goes round comes round.

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Rogers Evans

Oct 31, 2014 03:04pm

Because you are one of them as most of PML -N and and PPP persons are involved.

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meera

Oct 31, 2014 03:32pm

You know why. Because if we make their names public, next time they will MY NAME public so.......keep eating this country turn by turn.

Recommend 0

salman

Oct 31, 2014 03:33pm

there should be a new post for pervaiz rashid...."minsiter of no information", because everytime he speaks, thats what we get....no information.

Recommend 0

Jadugar

Oct 31, 2014 03:44pm

Its unbelivable that these crooks will go to any leangth to Protect their own, Breaking the law for their own seems to be in ther Job description . The golden chain of The influential and the VIPs must be broken for Pakistan to move forward

Recommend 0

Laeeq,NY

Oct 31, 2014 03:47pm

Even if they make them public, nothing will happen. Lost money will never be recovered. Cases will go on for years and years and people will forget the corruption charges of the accused. Until more corruption will be done by the individual, and the cycle of corruption will kept going for generations. Only reason for this no punishments for these crimes.

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Khalil Ahmed

Oct 31, 2014 06:20pm

This government talks about Democracy all the time where people have the power. How one can think of not sharing the information with same public who elected these leaders?? So engineers build a Highway and the Government takes the credit. When the same Engieers do the corruption, who is responsible? I believe both. When nothing changes, then Leaders are responsible and their name have to go public so they see the performance of those whom they elected.

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Ahmed

Oct 31, 2014 06:27pm

Very Disappointed by the views of Mr. Rasheed. This is why democracy has not prevalied in our country. This mindset and attitude of the politicians needs to be changed to promote a clean society where leaders are accountable and their performance and conduct is open to those who elected them.This is politics of Democracy. Minister Rasheed should avoid the politics of beauracracy.

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m. a

Oct 31, 2014 09:15pm

He does not want to name the corrupt persons. Because all the corrupt persons are the government and opposition politicians.

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Sana Batool

Nov 01, 2014 12:34am

Are they from your ruling elite?

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Concerned

Nov 01, 2014 02:19am

Publishing names or no names will not make any difference - if NAB is serious they need to bring culprits in the court, prove their guilt and ensure that they get appropriate sentence. Additionally, I assume there are laws in the country that once convicted they cannot run for public office? but often I am wrong when I assume anything about what has passed through our assemblies in Pakistan to convict our beloved politicians.

Recommend 0

Sarwat

Nov 01, 2014 06:25pm

Why!!! What are you hiding, who are you protecting, this is more corruption, now we need to know more and it is our right.

Recommend 0

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