HAVING a bank account has become a customary right for the citizens of a civilised state. But this right is jeopardised in Pakistan if one’s name is inquired into, even marginally, by the National Accountability Bureau or of its kin.

Recently, I was told by a bank on Zamzama that my account had certain transaction bars owing to a letter from NAB, principally about a relative of mine. The bank asked me to acquire an NOC from NAB for reactivating the account; but I was not entitled for an NOC as I was not the one being investigated.

It is also pertinent to mention that the constraints were placed on my account a month after the investigation concerned was closed by NAB, which found no delinquency on the part of the principal respondent. Moreover, it is a well-acclaimed standard operating procedure of NAB to thoroughly probe a person encompassing all her relatives; and therefore, such SOP must never be allowed to jeopardise the daily affairs of law-abiding citizens.

While I have no issues with my bank providing the relevant details to any of the law enforcement agencies as per law, placing bars on one’s banking transactions just because one’s name has been inquired into by NAB is a mockery of law and travesty of justice. It is parallel to an innocent being treated as guilty just because a relative of hers was merely investigated for an alleged offence by an LEA. Financial institution do not have the right to impose arbitrary bars on their own whims. Placing any restrictions on transactions must be reinforced by legal instruments sanctioned by a competent authority.

The State Bank of Pakistan must, therefore, issue a stern warning to the banks, against transcending their legal bourns and putting illegal restrictions on their customers rights just to avoid being held answerable before the law for any inadvertent misdemeanor.

A customer
Karachi

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2019