ISLAMABAD – National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairperson Justice (retd)Javed Iqbal complained on Thursday that departments of the PunjabGovernment are not cooperating with the anti-graft body.

Addressing a ceremony here, the NAB chief warned that failure to cooperatewith the anti-corruption officials will not be tolerated in the future.Moreover, Iqbal said they shall make all-out efforts to reject bail ofinfluential culprits who pressurise witnesses and to protect witnesses.

He added that those who give directives on someone’s orders will eventuallyhave to bear the brunt of their wrongdoings. However, Iqbal added, he willtry to eradicate corruption till he is in office. It is necessary to cleanone’s own house before raising fingers on someone else’s, he said.

About the anti-graft body, Iqbal said NAB is not biased towards anyone.Even NAB officials will be tried if complaint is received against them, headded. Regarding bureaucracy, the NAB chief said it is the backbone of acountry. “[But] will not tolerate lack of cooperation on part of thebureaucracy.”

The NAB chief also spoke about scams pertaining to private housing schemes,saying their owners should know they would be tried. “Those getting connedby private housing scheme [owners] include pensioners and poor people,”Iqbal said.

He added that owners of such housing schemes show people pleasant dreams ofgetting a roof but the reality of such projects is “horrible”. “If ownersof private housing schemes cannot provide a roof then they should [atleast] reimburse people,” Iqbal added.

The NAB chief said private housing scheme owners make projects but seldomread the rules, one of which also requires them to keep interest rate low.