ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (R)Javed Iqbal has been offered the slot of President of Pakistan by theruling party in return for favour in Panama cases, senior journalist ZiaShahid has revealed in a TV programme.
PMLN has offered the slot of President of Pakistan to him but he hasdeclined the offer.
The NAB chairman earlier directed that no pressure or influence whatsoeverconcerned to Panama inquiry would be taken into consideration at all andinquiry would be conducted transparently and purely on merit.
He also sought report about coordination and cooperation of allstakeholders who earlier gathered information from key institutionsincluding the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) about inquiry of435 Pakistanis who had established offshore companies.
Justice Javed Iqbal sought progress report on the ongoing inquiry againstthe Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) in order to pinpoint the reasons for nofunctionality of the entity and also the government’s apathy on the issue.The NAB chairman directed to fix responsibility of squandering billions ofrupees in the PSM.
It may be mentioned here that National Assembly’s Standing Committee onIndustries and Production had taken notice of the Steel Mills issue andasked the NAB to take action against the responsible.
Justice Javed Iqbal said the NAB’s proactive anti-corruption strategy hasproved very successful to eradicate corruption which has become the voiceof the whole nation today. He said the NAB has proved itself with itsactions against the corrupt across the board without any pressure andfavouritism. Due to this reason, he said, the whole nation is lauding theNAB’s efforts for fulfilling its promise.
The NAB chairman said that today due to the Bureau’s performance, itsprestige has been restored by not caring about duress and browbeating ofthe corruption accused.
He said the NAB has initiated complaint verifications, inquiries andinvestigations against politicians, bureaucrats and ex-military officersacross the board on allegations of corruption etc. he said theindiscriminate actions have increased the prestige of the NAB manifold,adding that the aim of the NAB is to apprehend the corrupt and deposit thelooted amount in the national exchequer.
“The NAB has filed 197 corruption references in the accountability courtsin the six months which is a record achievement as investigation of megaand white collar crimes is very difficult and it takes years but when youraim and mission is clear, then everything becomes possible,” he said.
The NAB during the six months arrested 226 accused in different cases,completed 55 complaint verifications, 39 inquiries and 33 investigationshave been authorised, whereas 27 accused have been convicted by theaccountability courts.