NAB Takes Over Anti-Corruption Role

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
1

Let us together end corruption!

SOURCE: JANG-GROUP

Cabinet approves FIA reorganisation; Nisar says US visit highly successful; no pre-polls rigging

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet in an important policy decision on Friday to cleanse the society of corruption, assigned the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to have exclusive jurisdiction of effectively dealing with anti-corruption and economic crime cases - an area in which the Federal Investigation Agency had failed to make any impression over the decades. :smokin:

Making an end to protracted phase of speculations of reorganisation of the FIA and taking away from it the anti-corruption and economic crimes role, the cabinet approved reorganization of the FIA. “Now the anti-corruption cases will be dealt with by NAB with FIA’s economic crime wing entrusted to NAB,” said a senior official. President General Pervez Musharraf chaired the meeting, which will continue on Saturday as well.

Bringing the anti-corruption cases and the FIA’s powerful economic crime wing into the NAB’s fold, the NAB’s long arms have been further stretched strengthened. “That is done to end the overlapping and in recognition of the extremely encouraging performance of NAB since its creation,” said a senior official. Now the FIA has lost all of its teeth, with hardly any bite left in this white elephant.

The FIA bosses resisted the move for some time but gave up in the cabinet meeting where the Interior Minister supported the restructuring of the FIA and taking away from it the two areas of responsibilities.

However, the anti-corruption establishments (ACE) will continue to function in the provinces under the supervision of the respective provincial governments. However, the NAB will now start functioning as a single central organization to effectively deal with corruption and those involved in corrupt practices.

The decision sent shocking waves among the corrupt element as they would be the one who would face the NAB’s wrath if they try to indulge in corrupt practices again. The cabinet decided that officers and staff members of the FIA dealing with anti-corruption and economic crimes will be moved to NAB and the remaining staff will be sent to the surplus pool of the Establishment Division for absorption in other government establishments. This staff, said one official, will be retrained according to requirements of the NAB, as in the FIA they were generally sluggish in their approach.

The Federal Investigation Agency will continue to discharge responsibilities in the field of immigration and naturalization services, human smuggling, cyber crimes and crimes of terrorist nature.

Addressing the cabinet, President Musharraf apprised the participants of his recent visit to the United States of America where he addressed the UN General Assembly and met US President George Bush, Secretary General of the Security Council, Kofi Annan and heads of governments and states.

The President said the US President was very positive in response to Pakistan’s position regarding grant of visas to students who wish to study in American universities.

Information Minister Nisar A Memon said the visit was very successful from Pakistan’s point of view as it helped effectively convey Pakistan’s position on a range of important national, regional and international issues.

The Cabinet also approved the National Maritime Policy, which will focus on tapping of ocean resources falling within the Exclusive Economic Zone of Pakistan. The main objective of the policy is the protection and promotion of Pakistan’s strategic and maritime interests, preservation of marine environment including development of coastal zones, ports and harbours.

The Cabinet, Nisar said, also approved an ordinance, which stipulates requisition of civil transport by the Armed Forces without formal declaration of an emergency in the country with the understanding that the compensation on account of hiring/requisition of civil transport will be paid expeditiously.

The Cabinet approved in principle amendments in the Cantonment Act 1924 regarding the powers of the district magistrate under the act. The amendments will be incorporated in consultation with the National Reconstruction Bureau to ensure these are in harmony with the devolution of power policy.

The Cabinet also approved the up-gradation of the National College of Textile Engineering, Faisalabad to National Textile University which will impart specialized education at the post-graduate level in various sectors of textiles, ensuring its continued development and achieving the objectives formulated under the Textile Vision, 2005.

The Cabinet also approved that the National Textile Education Foundation will be set up to run the university with the adequate representation of the private sector in the Foundation. The Cabinet also approved the charter for the establishment of Air University Islamabad, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences & Technology Islamabad and Riphah University. Islamabad.

Replying to a question on reports of unearthing of a plot to allegedly assassinate the President, the Minister said, the government has not found enough evidence in this regard. However, there was an attempt earlier and those involved have already been arrested.

He said the operation against Al-Qaeda elements in Karachi was conducted purely by the Pakistani intelligence and police and it tracked and arrested all those involved.

Nisar Memon rejected the concern of the US Ambassador in India, in which he reportedly expressed concern over, what he alleged, the cross-border movement in Indian Occupied Kashmir. He rejected the allegation and said that President Musharraf has time and again stated that Pakistan would not let anyone use its soil for terrorist activities.

Memon said US President Bush in his meeting with President Musharraf in New York and also his administration appreciated the efforts of Pakistan in this regard.

The Minister said that the Information Act was on the Cabinet’s agenda and will be taken up in its next meeting. The Minister while responding to a question stated that the process of democracy in terms of governance has continued during the three years of the Musharraf Government. He referred to the freedom of expression and said it is a fact that no political party was banned or any leader arrested during this period.

He rejected the allegation of pre-polls rigging and said the Chief Election Commissioner is supervising the entire process and the government has nothing to do with it. He again assured that elections would be held on October 10 in a free, fair and transparent manner. To a question, he said, no decision has yet been taken about the deployment of army personnel during elections.

2

Federal Authorities should also be investigated and Government should keep track of their activities.

Above all, it is a good step :k:

3

This is hillarious :disgust:

Financial Implications of NAB-FIA Merger Ignored

ISLAMABAD: The Finance Ministry has expressed its concern over the financial implications of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) merger , said official sources.

Cabinet sources disclosed to this correspondent here on Saturday that Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz had raised the issue of financial implications of the merger of NAB-FIA in the cabinet meeting on Friday that discussed the issue for almost three hours in which many cabinet members participated. Some of them were opposed to the merger while others supported it and got it done at the end.

Sources said when the NAB-FIA merger came up for discussion in the cabinet meeting on Friday, the Finance Minister pointed out that apart from settling some other important aspects of this merger opposed by the FIA bosses right from the start till Friday when the cabinet finally decided for the merger, some other important financial aspects remained to be resolved.

Sources said the cabinet decided to form a committee of all the concerned to look into the financial implication of the merger and other problematic areas that have been ignored at this stage.

Sources said the committee will also monitor the process of transfer of FIA officials to the NAB to help the Bureau to carry on its task. Sources said the committee will examine the actual requirement of staff needed in the NAB and finalise the names of the FIA officials who will be deputed there.

Sources said some members of the cabinet meeting were opposed to the merger and wanted the NAB to concentrate on major crimes as it had been doing in the past. The NAB has been considered a powerful tool in the hands of the military government, but accused of selective accountability drive.

Sources maintained that Communication Minister, Javed Ashraf Qazi supported the move of merger strongly. He was joined by the interior minister who reportedly was not happy with the merger initially, but later he was convinced by the briefing given by the NAB chairman to the cabinet with regard to the merger move.

4

:nook:

NAB Can’t Sue Armed Forces Personnel

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) could not file a case against members of Pakistan Armed Forces because of the immunity granted to them under the Constitution and the Supreme Court judgment, confirmed Prosecutor-General Accountability Raja Muhammad Bashir here on Tuesday.

The controversy of moving against members of the armed forces began when disgraced former naval chief Mansurul Haq attributed a statement to the chief executive that “serving military officers would also be taken to task”. “The Army law is self-contained and the accountability of Army officers and other ranks are held within the parameters of that law,” said Raja Bashir.

The NAB law, he said, will not be invoked in any way against the members of the armed forces, though under the same law the former members of the armed forces can be proceeded against. Answering a question, Raja Bashir said that evidence could be brought against any person, but the NAB could not file a case against the armed forces officers.

When Mansurul Haq was arrested, recently, in another case of fraudulent purchase of “junk ships” for Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), he started making statements of different kinds, which created doubts on the plea-bargain in the submarines purchase case. Mansoor repaid $7.5 million after being extradited from the United States. However, in the second case, he was arrested and a reference was filed in the Karachi Accountability Court.

Through the purchase of three substandard ships from private owners, Mansoor along with two fugitives - Rear Admiral (retd) Javaid Ali and acting chairman and Commodore (retd) Mirza Ashfaq Beg as Director, Ship Management, PNSC, purchased three ships on much higher prices. Apolonia (renamed as Sawat) was purchased for $14.8 million, Ora Bhum (renamed as Shalamar $15.5 million and Independent Voyager (renamed as Lalazar) at $16.7 million. “All this amounts of $47.14 was wasted and it multiplied the loss to the national exchequer, as the deal was done in 1994,” said Raja Bashir. To a question, he said that Benazir Bhutto, who was prime minister at that time, was not included in this reference. He, however, said that probe could be conducted in other defence deals, as the Public Accounts Committee had indicated Rs 20 billion shabby deals in that sector.

5

FIA Hands Clipped; NAB Gets More Powers

ISLAMABAD: **The government has limited the role of Federal Investigation Agency to terrorism and terrorism related money-laundering cases and has shifted matters relating to economic crime to the National Accountability Bureau. **

This was announced by the out going Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider while addressing a news conference at the conclusion of eighth inter provincial meeting here Thursday.

He said that the law and order conference took stock of the current law and order situation, establishment of forensic labs, introduction of finger print technology at thana, district, provincial and at FIA headquarter level.

The minister said that police reforms were being implemented satisfactory and with the passage of time the attitude of police force towards the public would be friendly.

He said that negotiations were in progress with US on the return of Pakistani prisoners in Guantanamo bay.

He said that the cabinet Wednesday approved an ordinance for the establishment of police prosecution service at the provincial level, which would be headed by prosecutor general and would help control the crime rate.

Interior Minister said a package of Rs 40 million had been approved by the government to train and strengthen crime investigation department, **Rs 1.2 billion project had been approved for the setting up of forensic laboratories one each in Islamabad and in four provincial capitals to help in investigation and conviction of criminals. ** :k:

Turning to border security project being implemented with US assistance of $ 73 million, the minister said most of the equipment for the project would reach in January and February next year.

Five helicopters have already reached in Pakistan and three aircrafts would arrive next year.

Scouts on the western border would get better transport to address their difficulties.

New posts would be constructed on the western border with the facility of night vision equipment.

He said coast guards are also being strengthened.

Haider said that all arrangements were complete for setting up of computers at five major airports of the country, which would keep the records of passengers.

He held out the assurance that no country would get information collected and gathered in these computers.

The information would be entirely meant for law enforcement agencies.

He said an anti-terrorism training school was being set up and expressed the confidence that all these measures would help combat terrorism and crimes from the society.

He said law enforcement agencies had recovered 25,000 illegal weapons during deweaponisation campaign

6

Musharraf For Transparency In Audit To Curb Corruption

ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday emphasised the need for improving audit reports and directed that there should be transparency in the operation of audit and accounts offices to curb corruption.

During his visit to the office of the auditor-general of Pakistan, the president stressed the need for computerising accounts at all levels and improving the quality of audit reports, a press release of the auditor-general said.

The president said procedures should be simplified to facilitate the general public in getting their dues. The president agreed that the auditor-general should have full powers to incur expenditure within budgetary provisions in accordance with the Auditor General’s Ordinance 2001.

Auditor General Muhammad Yunis Khan gave a detailed briefing to the president about his department and the measures being taken to improve the system of accounts and audit in the country. He pointed out that accurate and timely accounts would help improve financial management.

It was decided that the provincial governments would extend full cooperation and support to provincial accountants general to implement the New Accounting Model approved by the president. In this context, the urgency of imparting training at all levels was emphasised.

The recommendation to rename the Accounts Group as Pakistan Audit and Accounts Service was also approved in principle. To assist the principal accounting officers, trained and qualified persons will be posted in the ministries/divisions.

Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz said reforms in the audit and accounts functions are critical for better fiscal governance. He observed that although considerable progress had been made, a lot more needed to be done to improve systems, processes and skills for improving quality of audit.

7

Howd you get such a corrupt organisation like the FIA to clean up the country??..
The NAB people are hard working, new and clean people, if theyd been given a free reign things would be much better by now. PT Newsline has some excellent links on the success of NAB take a look:

**About a year ago, a diamond-studded hairband was bought by a Pakistani lady from a jeweller in Turkey for about one hundred thousand pounds and paid for by a credit card in a false name. A chance lead led to a meticulous investigation that spanned two continents and uncovered layers of financial veils, till the purchase was finally traced to its ultimate source of payment. And the team who tracked it down were from Broadsheet, an American asset recovery company.

8

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Zakk: *
Howd you get such a corrupt organisation like the FIA to clean up the country??..
[/quote]

NAB will keep track of FIA.

9

NAB Returns Agriculture Ministry Case

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has returned a corruption case referred by the Agriculture Ministry, saying the Bureau found nothing wrong with the officials. The NAB through a letter informed the Agriculture Ministry that after conducting a preliminary inquiry it had cleared all officials involved in the case.

The case was prepared by Agriculture Minister Khair Muhammad Junejo, who, according to ministry officials, had developed some personal grudge against a former secretary and nine top-level officials, when they defied some “illegal” orders.

The case was about alleged illegal release of balance 10 per cent freight in Australian and Turkish wheat shipment during 1992-93. The NAB letter said the NAB Ordinance-1999 covers cases of corruption and corrupt practices by public office holders. It said instances of negligence in performance of their duties without ulterior motives do not attract NAB’s cognisance.

10

Zakk

You were right about NAB. These people are hard working, honest above all. I can expect good job from them.

NAB To Get Role To Prevent Corruption In Public, Defence Sectors

  • Proposal under study to make opposition leader
    supervise Public Accounts Committee.

ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will soon start acting as a public interface organisation to seek resolution of problems confronting the masses on account of corruption.

The spokesman of NAB stated this on Thursday while briefing the journalists on the role of NAB in the emerging political situation.

He said the role of the NAB was being widened through the recently adopted national anti-corruption strategy. “The NAB has also been given the role of prevention of corruption in addition to its existing anti-corruption functions,” he said.

As a part of that, the NAB spokesman said, all the contract papers worth Rs 50 million and above would have to be submitted to the NAB prior to the execution of the contract. “This clause would soon be introduced as part of the proposed implementation of national anti-corruption strategy,” he said.

Elaborating, he said that it would be applicable to all the public sector institutions and departments including the defence organisations. It will be mandatory for all the public sector departments besides the defence purchase organisations to submit the copies of the contract to the NAB prior to its actual execution, he said.

As a first step the NAB monitored the recent deal of PIA for purchase of latest passenger aircraft from an American firm to ensure transparency and flawless process of procurement. He said a proposal was also under consideration for giving the supervision of Public Accounts Committee to the opposition leader in the upcoming democratic set-up.

Referring to the role of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, the spokesman said the authority was contemplating on devising a system for procurement by the public sector departments.

Commenting on the merger of Economic Crime Wing of FIA in the NAB, he said a committee had been constituted which would meet on Saturday to discuss the modalities in that regard. However, he said all the cases and the staff and officers would also become the part of the NAB.

The spokesman said the role of the NAB would continue to be that of the sole national anti-corruption body while the provincial anti-corruption establishments would continue to work as they had been doing in the past.

Quoting the NAB Ordinance-2000, he said the NAB chairman had all authority to pick up any case from the provincial anti-corruption establishment but that would be done on case to case basis.

As far as the maximum punishment under the provincial anti-corruption establishment was concerned, he said that would be enhanced from seven years to 14 years. Answering a question, he clarified that no further posts had been created in the NAB while the existing vacant posts were being filled through lawful procedures.

11

*>>NAB Takes Over Anti-Corruption Role *

This is indeed news. Wasn't NAB created from day one, to capture corrupt people? I mean, isn't this what they have been doing for the past three years anyway?

12

[QUOTE]
Originally posted by Faisal: *
*>>NAB Takes Over Anti-Corruption Role **

This is indeed news. Wasn't NAB created from day one, to capture corrupt people? I mean, isn't this what they have been doing for the past three years anyway?
[/QUOTE]

so how Chaudris of Gujrat were spared!!!

13

Oh, at first I thought NAB had taken over the role of doing all corruption in Pakistan.

14

CORRECTION!

From the beginning, CID, FIA and NAB were handling Corruption.

Now, it is only up to NAB.

CID and FIA[to some extent] works for Domestic Terrorism.

Sincerely,

Pakistani Tiger :smokin:

15

NAB is a huge failure... It is impotent when it comes to confronting armed personell who looted the country, and the same goes for Mushy puppets

16

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Spock: *
NAB is a huge failure... It is impotent when it comes to confronting armed personell who looted the country, and the same goes for Mushy puppets
[/QUOTE]

cough cough

Despite of confronting Army personell, Pakistan came to 25th corrupt nation spot from 2nd in 3 YEARS! ;)

17

Performance of NAB since 99

NAB Recovered Rs 160bn In 3-Year Drive

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) carried out ‘across-the-board’ accountability of politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen and army personnel recovering over Rs160 billion in the process.

Chairman NAB Lt-Gen Munir Hafeez disclosed this at a seminar when he was accused of protecting ‘sacred cows’ in his three-year drive. Dispelling the impression that NAB had scared away the investors, he said the NAB took action against 173 businessmen only during the past three years, and such an action could not upset the economy. The NAB was in fact, a businessmen-friendly organisation, which was striving to ensure good governance, he said. He said mismanagement of government affairs had led to corruption. :smack: Although corruption had been prevailing in the country since long, yet it became a menace after 1985, and the public demands for accountability of the corrupt elements intensified.

He said as the public expectations were very high, NAB took some time to build up its capacity, and even then, government departments resisted it and did not provide information, which hampered its work. However, he added, NAB had succeeded in arresting the corruption at the highest level.

He said the bureau was striving hard to do justice to each case and had dropped 191 cases when it could not prove the allegations. He said the conviction rate of the NAB cases was 84 per cent and it was making efforts to raise it to 100 per cent.

He said NAB had performed much better than the other anti-corruption agencies. Now it was investigating all white-collar crimes. He said the FIA, which conducted investigation earlier had been relieved of this responsibility for it achieved only 27 per cent conviction rate.

The NAB chairman said his organisation was now all set to play its due role in ensuring good governance because a law had granted autonomy to it. He said he had formed a team of dedicated officers to conduct investigation of white-collar crimes and had employed chartered accountants, lawyers, and experts from various departments to handle different cases.

Strongly defending the plea bargain mode, he said it helped NAB recover Rs2.6 billion of looted wealth, besides saving it the high cost of hiring lawyers. He, however, said the court and not the NAB Chairman was the final authority to accept a bargain plea.

He said those who opted plea bargain, in fact, confessed their crimes and agreed to return the looted money. He said the person released on plea bargain was treated like other convicts. He said he could not contest election or secure any bank loan. He said NAB never asked an accuse to go for a bargain plea rather it was the accused who had to approach NAB and admit his crime.

He said NAB wanted to ensure ‘rule of law’ through National Integrity System and, therefore, it would be turned into an anti-corruption agency. Earlier, the Editor Nation Arif Nizami said the general perception about NAB was not positive as it was considered that every civilian in NAB’s eyes was corrupt unless proved innocent. He said NAB failed to take action against the corrupt elements in army and judiciary. He said even the politicians supporting the present regime were not spared from accountability.

18

NAB takes on former bureaucrat and cricketer Javed Burki. Mrs Burki defends her husband.

Javed Burki Arrested By NAB

ISLAMABAD: Javed Burki, former bureaucrat and cricketer, was arrested Wednesday by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for alleged misuse of authority and corrupt practices in Yasoob project as head of Pakistan Automobile Corporation (PACO).

Burki, former Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board, had also captained Pakistan cricket team many a time. He was taken into custody from his house at F-6 posh sector in Islamabad.

“It is highly regrettable that the man who served Pakistan for 35 years on top positions as bureaucrat has been arrested and that too in a clandestine manner,” Burki’s wife told The News following a team of local police along with NAB officials raided Burki house and arrested son of Wajid Ali Khan Burki.

“Burki’s character is above board and it can be testified from anyone… he has not done any wrong and no one can imagine a wrong thing to be done by him,” said Mrs Burki, who was first to encounter a plain-clothed person at Burki house Wednesday night.

The arrest warrant for Javed Burki issued under the seal and signatures of NAB Chairman Lt. Gen. Munir Hafiez did not mention any charge. It reads: Whereas Mr. Javed Burki s/o Wajid Ali Khan Burki, appears to have involved in the offences given in the schedule to offences under the NABO 1990. You are hereby directed to arrest the said Mr. Javed Burki and to produce him before the concerned court for obtaining his detention in the custody of NAB for the purpose of investigation."

The NAB chairman directed Inspector General Police Islamabad and Director-General NAB Sindh, Karachi, to take Burki into NAB custody.

Though the arrest warrant did not mention details of the offence, a spokesman of the NAB told The News that Burki was arrested for misappropriation of Rs. 1.5 billion in the project of Yasoob trucks, which are currently under military uses. :mad:

The spokesman said a reference to this effect is ready and would be filed in an accountability court, as during the production of Yasoob trucks Burki was heading PACO.

“Burki had misused his authority, carried out corrupt practices and misused the funds,” :mad: said the spokesman.

Burki’s arrest created ripples in the capital, as NAB by the arrest of a top former official has relaunched its campaign to combat corruption.

“Some politicians are also on our hit list,” said a NAB official.

A contingent of police from Khosar Police Station encircled the house of Burki, who had just returned after playing golf. “He just walked up to the NAB and policewalas, as he was not imagining this kind of treatment,” said a witness, who happened to be there. Burki was retired in 1998 as secretary water and power.

19

we all know who they r.. not the ones who have joined Govt.. now they are farishtas..

20

The NAB has been successful....but it only works against certain corrupt ppl.....ppl like Shujaat n Pervaiz Elahi were left free and now Parvez Elahi is CM of Punjab.