A meeting was held at National Accountability Headquarters to review the overall performance of the bureau. Chaired by Justice Javed Iqbal, Chairman NAB, the meeting was informed that the bureau had received a total of 51,591 complaints during 2019, of which 46,123 complaints were disposed of in accordance with the law.
The meeting was informed that the bureau okayed 1,464 complaints verification, of which 1,362 complaints verification were disposed of in accordance with the law of the land during 2019.
During the entire previous year, the bureau accorded approval of conducting 574 inquiries. Out of which 658 inquiries were disposed of. Some 221 investigations were approved, of which 217 investigations were completed as per law.
The NAB has filed 206 references in accountability courts. The meeting was told that the bureau has recovered Rs 363 billion from the corrupt elements during 2019. Right now, 1,230 corruption references, having accumulative value of Rs 943 billion, were under trial in different accountability courts. NAB has disposed of 57 from out of a total of 170 mega corruption cases. Right now, 10 inquiries and 15 investigations were nearing completion from out of 179 mega corruption cases. The appeals are being filed in the accountability courts to vacate stay orders.
The NAB chairman said concluding mega corruption cases and recovery of looted amount from corrupt elements was bureau’s priority. Expressing satisfaction on the overall performance of NAB, the chairman directed all DGs to conclude the complaint verifications, inquiries and investigation within the prescribed time frame.
According to Gilani and Gallop surveys 59 percent people of the country has expressed confidence over the performance of NAB. Chairman directed all investigation officers, prosecutors to pursue white collar crimes in courts after conducting investigations on scientific basis, so that the corrupt could be punished. Fresh recruitment has been made in NAB on merit besides ensuring training of the staff on modern lines.
This will improve the standards of investigations and also increase their performance. NAB has developed an effective monitoring and evaluation system. According to which all complaints are allotted a specific number. He said the record of references, executive board and regional boards’ details are being kept and analysed. The NAB has improved its infrastructure and working conditions and fixed 10 months period for filing reference of a complaint. NAB has also established Complaint Cells in its regional offices. New law officers have been appointed to meet modern day challenges. This has significantly improved the performance of NAB. NAB has chalked out special training programmes to improve capacity of its investigative staff. They are being provided training on modern lines to investigate corruption and white collar crimes investigations on modern lines. He said the conviction ratio of NAB cases is 68.8 percent which will be improved further. Complaint verifications, inquiries and investigations will be completed through Combined Investigation system by protecting the self-esteem of everyone.
