LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has set up an accountability facilitation cell (AFC) to probe alleged corruption of the provincial lawmakers after taking the approval of the Punjab Assembly speaker.

Any complaint filed with NAB against a member of the provincial assembly (MPA) will first be referred for scrutiny to the AFC, managed by a BPS-20 officer.

After initial investigation, the cell will send the complaint back to NAB through the Punjab Assembly speaker for further action. If NAB officials require more probe against an MPA, its team will visit the PA at the inquiry level and progress on complaints/cases against the MPA will be coordinated directly between the NAB’s regional director general and the assembly speaker.

“Both the identities of complainants and MPAs will be kept confidential during the initial stages of the inquiry. According to the chairman’s vision, NAB is promoting transparency and accountability within the bureaucracy, business community and lawmakers,” NAB Deputy Chairman Sohail Nasir said on Monday.

Bureau won’t launch inquiry against bureaucrats on anonymous complaints.

Mr Nasir along with NAB Lahore Director Amjad Majeed Aulakh called on PA Deputy Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar and briefed him about the AFC, its mandate and operations.

Mr Nasir said the purpose of the AFC was to enhance coordination between the Punjab Assembly and NAB regarding complaints against MPAs.

“Building trust between both the institutions is a must. NAB will no longer take action on any anonymous or pseudonymous complaints against MPAs,” he declared and added that NAB would ensure dignity and self-respect of the MPAs during the investigation.

Regarding action against bureaucrats, NAB has already declared that it will not launch a probe against civil servants on ‘anonymous complaints’ and without taking the chief secretary on board.

“The inquiry against any bureaucrat will be kept secret until completed as there will be no media trial. Besides, it has been decided that any case that is 10 years old will not open.

A committee, comprising the chief secretary, additional chief secretary and law secretary will be formed to assess NAB complaints against any officer,“ the bureau said.

Earlier, NAB Chairman retd Lt Gen Nazir Ahmed had assured the country’s top business leaders that the accountability watchdog would not harass the business community and they should openly play their role in the development of the country.

The chairman said he wanted to assure the business community that NAB would not harass them and they should be fully focused on “wealth creation activities and should do business without any fear”.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2024