NAB recovers record Rs2200mn from corrupt in last seven months: Chairman

ISLAMABAD: Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Justice Javed Iqbal Tuesday said that the NAB has recovered record Rs 2200 million from corrupt elements in last seven months.

Talking to NAB Lahore officials, he said NAB Lahore has recovered Rs 18 billion from the corrupt and returned the looted amount to affected people which helped increasing people’s confidence over NAB.

Lauding the performance of NAB Lahore, he eulogized the services of staff led by Director General, NAB Lahore Shahzad Saleem. He directed the officers to conduct complaint verifications, inquiries and investigations on merit, with honesty, transparency, ensuring concrete evidence and as per law of the land, said a press release.

Director General NAB Lahore briefed the Chairman in detail regarding the cases referred by Supreme Court of Pakistan including the appointment of former oath commissioner Afzaal Bhatti, the cases barring Punjab Institute of Cardiology including inquiries against Tariq Jawad, Makhdoom Umer Shehryar and others, Neelum Jhelum project inquiry against WAPDA officers, Inquiry against Rashid Mehmood Langrial, Jawad Qureshi, former CEO Punjab Population innovation fund, Zaheer Abbas Malik, CEO Punjab Health Management Company, Captain (Retd) Usman, CEO Punjab Saaf Pani Company (South) Muhammad Ali Ammar, CEO Punjab Health Facilities Management Company, Usman Saeed, former vice President National Bank of Pakistan Hall road Branch, inquiry against Agritech Limited Company and Hammad Arshad and detailed briefing about investigations being conducted against DHA, Lahore.

NAB Chairman directed the staff to complete investigations of cases referred by Supreme Court of Pakistan as per merit, in light of concrete evidence, transparent way in accordance with law. No negligence would be tolerated in this regard.

He said the verdicts of Supreme Court, High Courts and Accountability Courts would be implemented in true letter and spirit.

He said mega corruption cases should be taken to logical conclusion as per law and after collecting concrete evidence.

All accused are equal before law and their status and position ends outside NAB office. NAB would deal all and sundry in accordance with law of the land. He said NAB does not have any link with general elections. NAB would take stern action against plunderers of national wealth and will recover the looted money from the corrupt and deposit it to national exchequer. NAB would force the looters and plunders to stand in the dock.

NAB officials must not care about any browbeating or threatening languages, he said adding that they should concentrate on concluding the cases being investigated against the culprits as the whole nation looks towards NAB for elimination of corruption.

He vowed to continue playing role in elimination of corruption with nation's support. He said corruption was devouring country’s resources rapidly the checking of which is need of the hour.