News Analysis |
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to file a reference against the former Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani. The accountability bureau has also decided to file refines against other ‘big’ names as well. The decisions were made during a meeting held in Islamabad which was presided by the chairman of accountability bureau on Wednesday.
According to media reports, former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, former secretary of Information Technology Farooq Awan, former press information officer (PIO) Muhammad Saleem, former company secretary Universal Service Fund Syed Hasan Sheikh, the CEO of Messrs Midas (Pvt) Ltd Inam Akbar and several other individuals from the Ministry of Information Technology were named in the corruption references.
According to sources, these aforementioned individuals are accused of misusing their authority to illegally grant Messrs Midas an advertising contract, which cost the national treasury Rs 129.07 million, in contravention of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules.
Interestingly, among the 179 cases of mega corruption, 22 are related to financial corruption, 27 to housing societies and 71 pertained to corruption and misuse of authority by high-ranking public officials. Masses in Pakistan believe that the NAB.
Furthermore, the board also granted approval for the launch of investigations in four different cases against former president Asif Ali Zardari’s foster brother, Owais Muzaffar alias Tappi, who was the Sindh local bodies’ minister. These individuals have also allegedly abused the authority while they were in the office. The NAB will now initiate proper investigations against the alleged persons.
Read more:Â Former PM Gilani loses on home ground
NAB did not Arrest any Candidate During the General Elections 2018
Since the watchdog was working independently and filing references against those involved in mega corruption cases, the electoral candidates felt threatened. The NAB then decided on July 4th not to arrest any candidate till the General Elections 2018. Now the general elections are over and the watchdog is again there to work and ensure transparency.
Former PM Yousuf Raza has tried to link the reference against to his recent meetings with the leaders of PML-N. He is making efforts to shape a narrative that he is being punished for being a friend of the PML-N. In Pakistan, the PML-N has been trying to establish an anti-judiciary and anti-establishment narrative so that cases against the former first family can be taken as a demonstration of political victimization.
It is important to mention here that the NAB is not sparing anybody so far. PTI’s Aleem Khan who is said to be one of the closet friend of Imran Khan has also been summoned by the watchdog to appear before the investigation team. Leaders of PTI, PML-N and PPP along with several senior bureaucrats are required to appear before the watchdog. This shows the indiscriminately approach of the accountability bureau.
The accountability bureau has also decided to file refines against other ‘big’ names as well. The decisions were made during a meeting held in Islamabad which was presided by the chairman of accountability bureau on Wednesday.
Read more:Â Raza Rabbani, accuses NAB, judiciary, ECP of pre-poll rigging
NAB to Conclude Cases Against Bigwigs
The Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the NAB, to conclude all investigations into these mega cases by Dec 31, 2015 on July 7, 2015. The court also expressed displeasure over the cases pending for over a decade with no real progress. Later on, the NAB NAB had sought an extension of three months. The SC, however, instructed to present a final report to the court by the termination of the requested extension on March 31, 2016.
As the new Chairman assumed the office, the prosecution division of the bureau was immediately ordered to finalise all 179 mega corruption investigations as soon as possible. It was revealed during a performance review meeting of NAB chaired by Justice Iqbal that investigations into 101 cases had been concluded, and references had been filed in the respective accountability courts, where the corruption cases would be adjudicated in accordance with the law.
Moreover, currently the NAB is working on 19 inquiries and 23 investigations, while 36 cases have already been disposed of.
Leaders of PTI, PML-N and PPP along with several senior bureaucrats are required to appear before the watchdog. This shows the indiscriminately approach of the accountability bureau.
The 179 mega corruption cases were lodged against the industrialists, traders, senior bureaucrats and prominent politicians, including the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif (case under investigation), Punjab Chief Minster Shahbaz Sharif (case under investigation), ex-president Asif Ali Zardari (case under trial), former prime ministers Yousuf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervez Ashraf (cases under trial), former federal minister Dr Asim Hussain (a case under trial and two others under investigation), former prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain (case under investigation), ex-CM Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Elahi (case under investigation), former chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amir Haider Khan Hoti (case under investigation), former chief minister of Balochistan Aslam Raisani, (inquiry under progress) former communication minister Arbab Jahangir and his wife Begum Asma Arbab (case under investigation), MPA Asif Nakai (case under investigation), MNA Syed Iftikhar Shah (case under investigation), former minister Murid Kazim (case under investigation), former chairmen of NICL Ayaz Khan and Javed Akram (case under trail) and former chairman of Evacuee Trust Property Asif Hashim (case under inquiry).
Read more:Â Husain Haqqani Paradox: Why in a democracy questions are being asked…
Interestingly, among the 179 cases of mega corruption, 22 are related to financial corruption, 27 to housing societies and 71 pertained to corruption and misuse of authority by high-ranking public officials. Masses in Pakistan believe that the NAB will continue to work in the same pace under the new PTI-led government.