PESHAWAR: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal Thursday said the watchdog will continue to probe corruption cases in accordance with the law and the constitution, asserting that days of the ‘untouchable’ are over and that no one is above the law.
“It is better that those who have been thinking that they are untouchable should clear this misunderstanding,” he told a ceremony in Peshawar. “They can be asked questions, they can be nabbed and they can also be prosecuted as per the law,” he added. Justice (r) Iqbal said NAB remains undeterred in the face of criticism triggered this week after it took notice of a newspaper article based on a report and announced to investigate whether former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was involved in sending $4.9 billion to India.
“The NAB is not in panic and is not afraid,” he said, adding that whatever the NAB is doing, it’s doing for the country and for the people. “The NAB does not need any advertisement or any appreciation. If someone criticises or insults us, it’s up to them but the NAB has been and will continue to exercise its rights in accordance with the law, the constitution and also keeping in mind others’ dignity,” he said.
The NAB chairman stressed that probing into corruption was not a ‘crime’. “How is asking about corruption a crime? And let’s suppose it is a crime, then this crime will continue to be committed because it’s in the interest of this country,” he added.
The NAB chief said that accountability is for the country’s progression. “NAB doesn’t play politics of hatred … it is doing everything in its powers for the country,” he said. “Politicians and bureaucrats don’t need to take offence when summoned by NAB,” he said. “Your respect is intact even when we send notices. The bureaucracy has never behaved outside the law and the constitution,” he said. “NAB, under my tenure, has always been courteous to whoever it has probed. This is not a personal invitation of Javed Iqbal calling people for lunch or dinner. This notice is sent by a national organisation keeping in mind others’ dignity. Whoever has been called in the past six months, has first been served tea and then been quizzed with the utmost respect that ‘you were entrusted with the nation’s money so just tell us where it was spent’.”
The chairman reminded the bureaucracy that their loyalties lie with the state of Pakistan. “Bureaucracy’s affiliation and loyalty is with the state and Pakistan,” he said. “Governments come and go so the bureaucracy, before taking any steps, should think whether their decision is against the country or the state.”
Published in Daily Times, May 11th 2018.
