THIS is with reference to Dawn’s editorial, titled ‘NAB’s shame’ (Oct 8).

The fact is that Justice (r) Javed Iqbal, Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau, has always considered the business community as backbone of the country. The NAB chairman visited the Islamabad Chambers of Commerce and Industry last month and addressed the business community, an event published in newspapers.

A delegation led by Mr Daroo Khan Achakzai, president of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, met the NAB chairman on Aug 25 last and lauded his efforts to resolve issues facing the business community, while referring income and sales tax cases to the Federal Board of Revenue for further action. NAB, therefore rejects the allegation that it has become active very recently.

The NAB chairman also addressed the bureaucracy in Islamabad, Peshawar and Lahore, and rejected the propaganda that NAB was creating hurdles in the working of the bureaucracy. He proved with the help of figures that cases against bureaucracy were very few in numbers.

The alleging that NAB lacks a skilled workforce is contrary to the facts. NAB has imparted training programmes for its investigation officers on modern lines to investigate corruption and white collar crimes as per law. They are being offered training courses of international standards. NAB has also devised a Combined Investigation System to have collective wisdom in the conduct of inquiries and investigations. This has improved the standard of inquiries and investigations. Owing to this reason, NAB has ensured a 70 per cent conviction ratio of corruption cases.

NAB has also established at Islamabad a forensic science laboratory, which has modern facilities of digital forensic analysis of documents and fingerprints. The forensic science lab has improved the quality of inquiries and investigation. NAB has also fixed a 10-month period for completing inquiries, investigations and the filing of reference in accountability courts.

NAB has no affiliation with any party, individual or group; it has affiliation only with state of Pakistan.

NAB Spokesman
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2019