NAB prosecutor files reference against couple for allegedly blackmailing bureau chairman, six others
National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) prosecutor, Waris Ali Janjua, on Saturday filed a reference against a man and his wife, naming them as the prime suspects behind the recent "propaganda" against the bureau's chairman, Javed Iqbal, who along with six other complainants had allegedly been blackmailed and defrauded by the couple.
According to the accountability watchdog, the chairman as well as six other individuals had been targeted by a group of blackmailers, allegedly to which the couple belongs.
A few days ago, some footage and a few audio clips — first aired by News One — surfaced, in which a man could be heard talking to a woman, and making inappropriate remarks at various points.
While the TV channel linked the male voice with the NAB chairman, the corruption watchdog vehemently denied the allegation, labelling it "the propaganda of a blackmailers' group".
An accountability court sent out a notice to both suspects and asked them to appear in court on June 17. The investigation officer in the case has also been summoned.
According to the reference filed by NAB, 36 witnesses recorded their statements with the bureau against the two suspects.
The two "lured and defrauded six complainants by collecting millions of rupees through corrupt, dishonest and illegal practices and hence gained illegal monitory (sic) practices", read the reference filed by the bureau.
According to the reference, the complainants were cheated "on the pretext of processing their visas, installation of towers of mobile companies, to get them relief in cases and to purchase cheaper bulldozers for them".
Janjua said that the two suspects would "extort money from people and threaten to initiate a NAB inquiry against them if they did not comply".
"With others, embroiled in cases with the bureau, they would ask for huge sums of money and promise to get their cases resolved in exchange," he added.
The man is currently incarcerated in Kot Lakhpat Jail whereas his wife is out on bail.
Comments (53) Closed
Why? Shouldn’t NAB chief resign first as he brought disgrace to his institution by getting into this trap? It is very unfortunate that we couldn’t produce leadership who has ethics and common sense.
NAB can not file case against these people when Chairman NAB is a party ! It should be investigated by a third party . NAB is only for investigating cases related to corruption , this is a FIA case !
Very daring blackmailers. The matter would be of great interest for those who are watching the proceedings of NAB with apprehensions.
I have serious doubts about the credibility of NAB Chairman ! He is a seasoned opportunist , If those wee his own words over the tape then this person should investigated and barred from any future jobs anywhere for his sexist and vulgar comments!
Good move, but it must be fast and fury, jail and send them to Muchh Jail, this will also serve a lesson to others.
Good decision to prosecute fake audio and video couple, and if found guilty then punish them and their masterminds. Set an example, so that in the future people in authority are not blackmailed by crooks and corrupt mafia. This is important.
Why ??? Is the chairman NAB untouchable
Lost moral ground.
The parliament must make laws to safeguard from these types of blackmailing.
Instead of being ashamed at this incident and apologizing.or the chairman should resign Pakistan will never change until individual take responsibility of their acts instead of transferring blames
This can only happen in Pakistan where a man who is blackmailed has filed the reference in his own court and is a prosecutor and a defendant himself. Let us nip the truth in the bud. There is no shame anywhere. 24 hour circus.
Why was chairman in his office alone with a female. Why was this female in official office during working hours for personal reasons. Is this not missuse of Government office and official time.
If it's an audio then a voice artist can mimic sounding like any one. The TV commercial that we see in the TV, actual celebrity like like Sachin Tendulkar or Amitabh Bachchan advertising a product the dialogue are actually recorded in the voice sounding like them by a voice artist.
@M. Saeed, what proceedings?
@Alam USA, you can place all of the !!! you want, but you're still not believed.
This is funny, why from the Prosecutor of NAB, This is his own case, He should heir his own attorney. What a fool making everyone fool
Wow!!! Look at the audacity of this man! The tape can't be more clear to show that this man, being in power, was having illegitimate relationship with one of the accused, and that accused being the age of his grand-daughter! In addition, he was using official property to carry on his illicit relationship! In any civilized country, this compromised chairman would have been immediately suspended from his office, proper investigation would have been launched, and he would have to answer his deeds like any of his accused! But, then when we have a PM with coloured morals, he and his cohorts would just shove this under the rug!
Dears , Nab chairman should be hanged, Who selected him for this position ? For sure parliament! 22 core mandate! how dear he used his power and position for such benefits? Nab was good and clean institution but now pakistan steel mill , Pia and Nab are seems in same row in terms of thr credibility. My sympathies with the founder's members of Nab and hard workers staff , honest youngmen and all the unknown heroes of Nab staff . Please set example for all other to not repeat such Plz save pakistan and give clear message . To other head of institutions that do not cross the limit and do not bully other with thr position .
It is beyond imagination that how come Justice Javed Iqbal, a retired senior judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan and presently serving as Chairman of National Accountibility Bureau got involved in the controversy with a lady and that too who had cases against her and husband is black mailing such a senior level person.
I have not seen nor heard that judges make personal rapport with any one whether a lady or a man but how did lady get into NAB's office to meet the chief.
Unlimited people have watched video clip and have heard the conversation between Justice Javed Iqbal and the lady which Justice Javed Iqbal is denying.
This particular case and where involvement of Justice Javed Iqbal is denied by his staff, not by himself is raising many questions be this a scandle.
People have been listening press conferences of Justice Javed Iqbal on TV and Radio and recognize Justice Javed Iqbal's voice very well, but how it is possible that some one speaks very similar to Justice Javed Iqbal?
Too good watchdog's anything you say!!!!
It's not a trap because it's not personal it's professional matter. What a shame he still in charge of NAB.
NAB Chairmen must step down to let justice prevail. How can prosecutor do an impartial work until NAB Chairmen resign
@Ameer , the chairman might be untouchable but he did want to touch with his lips. Have to give him credit at 73 years old. Bravo.
If this true why NAB is investigating and instead it should be a police case of extortion and police take care of it. Otherwise too, since NAB is party to the case they should not be prosecutor.
I am very surprised how NAB institution, which is a Pakistan government institute, is denying and defending these allegations on behalf of NAB chairman , which are a personal matter of NAB chairman and no where in the alleged videos the alleged so-called blackmailers are talking about NAB institute. NAB should have distanced itself from this whole situation and should have let NAB chairman to handle it personally.
Youtube videos suggest the Chairman may not be innocent. He should resign and there be impartial inquiry to get to the bottom of the case. .
@Abp, well said
Apart from this article whatever is claimed in this, as seen in video mr chairman leaves his chair comes to the lady n hugged her. If it was any kind of fraud or propaganda why did he do that. As per call what he is talking is all fake? This may be propganda now after video leaked but what it was before
@Alam USA, well said
@Zaheer , gained moral ground. Your perspective is wrong, wake up.
Nobody can be the judge of his own cause.
@Justicefirst, Zardari and Sharif's are behind this, since they have the most loot to lose.
You could only be blackmailed if you have done something wrong...
As a Chairman of NAB Mr Iqbal should not have given interview to a journalist. By way of talking freely on politics and without minding his position as a State funtionary, he himself invited adversity. And unfortunately adversity does not come alone.
By way of hurling threats equally to opposition and govt and boasting his authority, the Chairman of NAB made his position controvertial and thus miserably failed to display, preserve dignity and honour neceesarily required to be in the office as Chairman NAB, the post that demands from the chairman to be highly disciplined, impartial, and indifferent from political activities as long as he remain in office
Irrespective of the fact whether the impugne video is fake or fictitious, the Chairman has lost confidence of people reposed in him and is liable to step down and present himself for impeachment voluntarily!
That is irony whenever BIG CULPRITS are brought to justice such controversies arises to shift mass focus and bring bad name and signage to institutions. Until we don’t make independent institutions free from political influences we can’t succeed n progress.....why such telecon not brought before n why now and how old is this? People must try to understand and think optimistic rather to become irrational and emotional.......
NAB.Chairman must check the trail of their connections. Possibly they are connected to COD parties cadres.
This name Chairman looks like street lover
It is false story NAB Chairman and Government are ready to
Means chairman knows exactly who leaked or did that thing....
Yeah Right. Mr. Javed Iqbal, you have been caught with your pants down. You have no moral standing anymore. Resign. You are disgraced.
"A few days ago, some footage and a few audio clips — first aired by News One — surfaced, in which a man could be heard talking to a woman, and making inappropriate remarks at various points". If the man in the audio/video clip is not the chairman then the lady should be appointed as a professor of computer science and IT. She is expert in artifical intelligence and can make audio/video clone of any person.
It’s high to dismantle the so called NAB system and completely revamp it with higher Judiciary as its accountability authority.
Public is least interested in the crime record of lady involved or her husband. We need thorough forensic to know was the video and voice not that of a person holding highest office of accountability in the country.
Holders of public office have to have high moral grounds to occupy this seat.
Not a single time chairman NAB said he was not in purported videos. He needs to first prove that it was not him before filling references against other people. And BTW, it's not blackmailing, it's called "sting operation".
Accountability bureau chief with no accountability! Serious allegations against him n case is filed against accusers only! It's only the tip of the iceberg where the current dispensation n its facilitators real face should be exposed!
A very, very dirty game has been started. IT also shows the desperation of those facing accountability. If NAB chief resigns now, we know there will be no NAB chief as Shahbaz Sharif, the leader of the opposition, is outside the country and has no plans to return.
NAB chief is clearly involved in inappropriate approaches to this lady. He should immediately resign.
NAB is exceeding in its manadate.
NAB chairman disgraced Allama Iqbal. Should resign. IK should take action
I have been to a Lahore NAB office once, as a routine they do not allow mobile phone inside the building they take away your phone and give you a receipt to claim back when you are leaving the building. Surprise to me is that woman has phone in her hand and no one stopped her, says one thing that all security staff was told in advance the special nature of the visitor.
@Qamar, NAB chairman has no relationship with Allama Iqbal sahib this is just a coincidence that he shares the last name.
Another distraction - we want accountability and the loot back - the corrupt forces who no doubt have unlimited resources are up to every trick to stop the investigation or derail it. NAB must bring speedy convictions and recover the loot. Their failure to close cases is giving room to all sorts of distractions.
Need investigation against nap chairman.