ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top anti-graft body National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has recovered Rs4bn during the last one year.
According to official documents, during last year, from October 2013 to September 2014, NAB has recovered Rs3.93 billion, received 19,816 complaints, authorised 767 inquiries, 276 cases were converted into investigations and 152 references were filed in the accountability court.
The figures of complaints, inquiries and investigations are almost double as compared to the corresponding period of October 2012 to September 2013 with 10,414 complaints, 276 inquiries, 84 investigations and 138 references.
The comparative figures for the last two years are indicative of the hard work being put in by all ranks of NAB staff in an atmosphere of renewed energy and dynamism, where fight against corruption is being taken as a national duty. Increase in the number of complaints also reflects enhanced public trust in the NAB.
A recent research report from Pildat for the last year also supports the position stated above as 42 percent people trusted NAB against 30 percent for police and 26 percent for government officials. The NAB has been rejuvenated in the past year and efforts are going on to make it a more credible and efficient anti-corruption organisation. The enforcement efforts in the shape of complaint verifications (CVs), inquiries and investigations have shown a marked improvement.
The concept of combined investigation teams (CITs) comprising of at least two IOs, a legal consultant and a case officer (additional director) along-with other experts from the relevant required field, has been strengthened. This helps in a team work concept and leaves no room for discretion and the Headquarters Operations Division analysis monitors the regional CIT reports before presenting the same to the executive board meeting (EBM).
The Prosecution Division has been allocated additional manpower in the shape of hiring competent law officers, based on market salaries and a fair and transparent hiring process.
Internews
