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KARACHI: Former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf has said the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cannot be diluted.
“Institutions take time to mature and creation of a new institution in its (....NAB’s) place is not a way to solve continuing problems. However, changes can be made in the way it functions,” the former president said during the inauguration ceremony of a civil society forum, Pakistan First Initiative (PFI) here on Saturday.
Appointed ‘democratically’ as the patron of the initiative, he spoke about the growing vacuum for a platform to discuss and debate “burning national issues.”
Held at a hotel in Karachi, the ceremony was attended by former economists, diplomats and ambassadors who are also part of the PFI council and were representing the Council of Professionals (COP) which Musharraf was addressing.
Mr Musharraf was the only one who spoke at the event as he laid down the features and functions of the initiative with the media. There are critical issues that are not discussed on the national or social media, he said, and it is to fill that need that he and other like-minded people thought of forming a think tank to bring them to the table. “We aim to study, analyse and debate issues which directly affect governance and welfare of the people,” he said. However, he added that: “We are not a rich organisation and will be dependent on public funding. Also, it is not a money-oriented initiative.”
Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2016
Comments (9) Closed
Excellent initiative by Presdient Musharaf. A real leader.
National Accountability Bureau Pakistan has failed to live up to its vision, mission and objective... Sole idea was to create an apex anti-corruption organization with the responsibility of elimination of corruption through a holistic approach of awareness, prevention and enforcement… Unfortunately, we see non of that happening… Reasons: 1- Allegations of Political interference, nepotism and corruption within its ranks; 2- Flawed accountability mechanism e.g. “Plea Bargain” authority… Consequences: 1- Emboldens corrupt elements; 2- Loot and plunder continues at a massive scale… Fix all of the above and Pakistan will progress in leaps and bounds…
He should not talk in lofty terms and the People should judge him from his past performance. If the retired General Musharraf was sincere about accountability, then at the time when he established NAB, he should not have exempted the Judges and the personnel of the armed forces from its jurisdiction. During his tenure as the President, the NAB was clearly used selectively as a victimization tool. Lives and reputations of many people were ruined, whereas certain people who served in his cabinet were forgiven for their big time corruption. Musharraf himself committed corruption when he signed off on the NRO at the expense of the public exchequer for which he was forgiven by another corrupt PPP regime. So what is he talking about?
Only the braves leaders are not afraid of NAB or FIA. PPP and PML-N leaders are very nervous since Rangers, NAB and FIA start taking action against corruption, now they don't have any place to hide, soon all corrupt politican parties leaders will be in jail.
Musharraf, even as a dictator, did more good for the country than the so called democratically elected corrupt and incapable politicians.
Love Musharraf he is an honest person.
@AW 100% agree he is the one who stab in back when NAB initiated accountability across the board. It was against all corrupt elements and it picked the right pace and gained reputation in the society which wss later raptured by your intervention. History will not forget you for this Mr. Musharaf
see who is talking.. some one who did NRO just to save his burning .... seat and NAB kept watching... Current NAB head was appointed by the PM and the opposition leader as its the constitutional way. i remember at the time of NAB chief appointment ,IK and the other uturn leaders were calling it 'mukmuka' by PMLN and PPP and now they are All praise for NAB chief
@Justice : "Only the braves leaders are not afraid of NAB or FIA. PPP and PML-N leaders are very nervous since Rangers, NAB and FIA start taking action against corruption, now they don't have any place to hide, soon all corrupt political parties leaders will be in jail." I fully agree!!! Have you been watching Dr. Shahid Masood on ARY during last week? He exactly said the same thing.Accountability is definitely coming to Punjab.And so many people are jittery and perplexed.