The federal government has approved the national anti-corruption scheme to be implemented soon by National Accountability Bureau (NAB). It would begin from school level.
The scheme is aimed at educating school children about the menace of corruption, bribery and white colour crime which have penetrated the different sections of the society.
Addressing a radio-press conference on Sunday the NAB Director-General for Sindh, Major General Haroon Sikander Pasha, said that the NAC scheme would create awareness about corruption and prepare a new generation to effectively deal with the menace.
In response to a question he agreed that uplift in the social and economic conditions of the people was one of the basic prerequisites in the fight against corruption but till that stage was reached the NAB had its role as a deterrent and that should be acknowledged and supported.
He said that the role of the NAB is restricted by NAB Ordinance. "We have to remain within its confines."
General Pasha said that there is no intention to set up NAB offices at district level as the Sindh NAB is meeting the requirement and the five accountability courts working under Sindh High Court are dealing with the cases emanating from different administrative units of the province.
He said that the NAB's function "comes to an end" after a case is referred to court for final disposal.
He disagreed with a suggestion that the four wings of the NAB, which are there to examine a case thoroughly before referring to courts for final disposal, lacked the level of expertise needed in the preparation of foolproof cases for prosecution.
He said that the investigation and inquiry wing, monitoring and investigation wing and the legal wing carryout their exercises in the light of available evidence. The courts may differ with the findings.
He said that they try to file flawless references but the Ordinance provides right to appeal and it should be respected. "Whatever is the decision of the court, we fully respect it," he said.
He said that Sindh NAB has so far recovered Rs 226.128 million under voluntary return scheme; Rs 2421 million were recovered under plea bargain; and Rs 965 million out of 50 cases referred to it by the Central Board of Revenue.
He said that out of 9000 complaints so far received, 1332 had been found fit for action.
General Pasha said that inquires were underway in 315 cases and 128 cases were under preliminary inquiry, 170 cases are in the court, 98 had been decided, out of which in 72 cases conviction had been awarded.
He said that in the Alliance Motor fraud case, 48,000 people were found affected. They were defrauded to the tune of Rs 3.57 billion. Process of recovery is underway, he added.
Pasha said the process of recovery of looted money and return to the affected people was in progress. So far, 7195 applicants had been paid 25 percent of their total claim. The disbursement comes to Rs 197 million.
The Sindh NAB chief said that it has become difficult to trace the affected people as many of them either had changed their addresses or had no knowledge about the work the NAB had been doing for them.
He appealed to Alliance Motor fraud affected people to contact official assignee at Sindh High Court and present their cases, with proofs, so that they might get back their money. "We are making efforts to recover 100 percent looted money and return to the affected people." At present the official assignee has Rs 1000 million with him for distribution.
Talking about the much publicised Employees Age Old Benefit Institution (EOBI) case the Sindh NAB chief said that out of Rs 1040 million embezzled, Rs 960 million had been recovered through plea bargain from the accused persons.
He said that the chairman of the EOBI, Barakatullah, was absconding abroad. Report/case for his arrest had been filed, he added.
General Pasha said that usually the NAB has a share in the recovered amount but in the case of EOBI "we have not taken our share as the money belongs to the poor".
He said that cases of wilful default come after the approval of the State Bank of Pakistan. NAB deals with cases involving above Rs 100 million.
He said that 16 cases involving foreign exchange companies are under investigation. These are all from Punjab. From Sindh, no such complaint had been received, he added.
He said that these companies, dealing in foreign exchange and some of them having interest in stock markets, were collecting money from people on the promise of higher return. These companies are under investigation, he said.
He asked the victims of foreign exchange companies to file their complaints, with evidence, if they have any claim.
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