'Self-accountability to eradicate corruption'

Staff Report
 
RAWALPINDI: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman Justice (r)Javed Iqbal on Friday has said that those who have looted the country’s money have to be made accountable.
Addressing a ceremony in Rawalpindi, the chairman said corrupt elements have destroyed the image of the country, adding that the bureau has performed its role in informing the people about the causes of corruption.
Self-accountability will wipe out the menace of corruption, he added.
Justice retired Javed Iqbal said NAB has not joined hands with anyone and that we have to face difficulties for the supremacy of law. Not only government but a joint struggle is required to make Pakistan like state of Madina, said NAB chairman.
Meanwhile, The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has launched an investigation against former governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mehtab Abbasi in assets beyond means case. The anti-graft watchdog has directed Mehtab Abbasi to share the details of his income and expenditures of his children’s education, abroad tours and investments.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) senior leader has been asked about investments in either Switzerland or Sweden in the questionnaire. The NAB has also sought details of investment in Kashmir Housing Society in Taxila.
He was also asked if his son, Shamoon Abbasi, has a friend named Ahmad Nawaz, and also if both of them has any joint venture.
NAB asked Sardar Mehtab Abbasi: “Did you cancel PIA’s profitable route and award it to private airline Air Blue?” It is pertinent to mention that a reference has already been filed against former KP governor over illegal appointment of former PIA chief executive officer.
Earlier, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal said on Friday that in order for the state of Medina to be built, personal interests would have to take a backseat to national ones.
The chairman of the anti-graft body was speaking to participants at an event where he said that if holding people accountable was a crime then NAB would keep on committing it continuously. “NAB has decided that it will not see the face. It will see the case on its merits,” he said. “The country owes more than $100 million hence those who looted it will be held accountable.”
He said that there were numerous laws present in Pakistan to keep corruption and money laundering in check. However, implementation on these laws was needed.
“If we are to build the state of Medina, we must keep the national interest above personal interests,” he said.
The statement from Iqbal comes at a time when the government and opposition are hitting out at each other. Both parties accuse each other of corruption and financial mismanagement.
On Wednesday, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif lashed out at the federal government and claimed that a ‘Niazi-NAB nexus’ was behind the move to freeze his assets. Shehbaz had said that the courts had granted him bail on merit in the Ashiana Housing Scheme and the clean drinking water cases.
On Thursday, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability, Shahzad Akbar, responded to Shehbaz’s presser by alleging that the PML-N president had looted the country and laundered billions. Akbar had alleged that Shehbaz’s assets grew by 70 per cent in the last 10 years through illegal means. He challenged the former Punjab chief minister to answer 18 questions pertaining to his assets.
Agencies add: Chairman National Accountability Bureau Justice retired Javed Iqbal on Friday urged the youth to join hands with the NAB for corruption free Pakistan.
Addressing in a seminar at Fatima Jinnah Hospital, Mr. Javed Iqbal said the bureau is striving hard to transform Pakistan into a corruption free state. Corruption has dented the country a great deal, he continued.
The NAB chairman said the graft-buster has created awareness among the countrymen about corruption and urged the youth to join hands with the NAB for corruption free, prosperous Pakistan.
The NAB chief said corruption is cancer and the biggest obstacle in the development of the country.
He said the bureau is carrying out its action without any discrimination and those who looted the natural exchequer, will be made accountable. He dispelled the impression that the accountability bureau was incapable of investigating the while collar crimes. Iqbal also said that the NAB has so far recovered 328 billion rupees from the corrupt elements and deposited in the national exchequer.
Earlier this week, the executive board of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had given the approval to file six new corruption reference during a session held under the chair of Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal.
A declaration of the anti-corruption watchdog confirmed that the institution gave approval to file six references against financial irregularities.