THIS is apropos your editorial ’NAB’s politics’ (May 15).

The National Accountability Bureau has time and again clarified it has no affiliation with any party, individual or group and its affiliation is only with the State of Pakistan. NAB is an apex anti-corruption organisation which is mandated with the responsibility of eradicating corruption and recovering money from corrupt elements.

Your editorial is contrary to facts. Under the leadership of Mr Justice Javed Iqbal, NAB has recovered Rs. 178 billion directly and indirectly from corrupt elements which is a record achievement. NAB has recovered Rs. 328 billion from corrupt elements and deposited it in national exchequer since its inception.

The mandate under the NAO 1999 empowers NAB to initiate proceedings against holders of public office, or any other persons for corruption and corrupt practices and to recover looted money. Therefore, Dawn’s assertion that “the conduct of NAB has become so controversial that it is very difficult to believe that its actions are not laced with partisan politicking” is untrue.

NAB has filed two references against Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and others in the Accountability Courts of Islamabad. As for the cases against the Sharifs, NAB has allegedly solid evidence on the basis of statements of witnesses and documentary proofs, etc. against them. Besides, NAB is providing ample opportunity to the Sharifs to confront the documentary evidence and record their statements in line with the true spirit of justice, transparency and fair play.

NAB is Pakistan’s focal organisation under the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). Pakistan is the only country that has signed an MOU with China through NAB to oversee ongoing projects under CPEC. It is due to NAB efforts that Pakistan became the first head of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation’s (AARC) Anti-Corruption Forum.

NAB has introduced the Combined Investigation Team (CIT) system concept and established its own Forensic Science Laboratory in order to save time, ensure secrecy and quality of investigation. NAB has established its own Pakistan Anti-Corruption Academy to provide state of the art training facilities to its investigation officers and prosecutors on modern lines.

NAB’s prosecution division is vigorously pursuing corruption cases in courts and our overall conviction ratio in accountability courts is approximately 70 per cent.

NAB is a people-friendly institution that always ensures protecting the self-esteem of all persons visiting NAB offices.

NAB Spokesman

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2020