ISLAMABAD: To make the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) more accessible, the bureau’s chairman has decided to make it easier for citizens to file a complaint in person, saying they can do so at the NAB headquarters between 2pm and 4pm on the last Thursday of every month.

According to an official statement, the decision was taken on Friday and will help the bureau receive and hear public complaints about corruption. The statement explained that senior NAB officials will also be present to hear the complainants.

NAB has asked complainants to be punctual and bring complete applications along with their Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) and evidence. The bureau’s chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal said that they were committed to implement the principle of “accountability for all” without any pressure or influence.

Quality grading system: The NAB chief also approved a comprehensive quality grading system to review annual performance of the bureau’s officers and officials.

Under the new system, besides evaluating the performance for the year 2017, wrongdoings of the officials of regional bureaus and headquarters would be identified and strict disciplinary action would be taken against incompetent and negligent officers.

Justice Iqbal said the bureau had set a period of 10 months to complete the process of filing complaints, verification, inquiry, investigation and then filing of reference, and this time limit would be implemented.

“Necessary instructions have been issued to all the regional bureaus about the grading system. With the consultation of regional bureaus and senior officers, a combined investigation system will be approved to ensure an effective operational mechanism,” he said.

“Under this system, benefit will be taken from the experience and collective wisdom of senior supervisory officers and this will further improve the quality of investigation and inquiries so nobody can affect the inquiries or investigations on a personal level,” added the bureau chief.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2017