National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Javed Iqbal refuted claims of accountability laws being a ‘black law’ and condemned former governments for not abolishing the legislation if they considered it objectionable.
Addressing a gathering in Multan, Iqbal maintained that the top accountability “could not be dictated” and that the bureau was executing tasks as per law.He said on Thursday that the NAB and the state’s economy could function simultaneously; however corruption could not coexist with the bureau.
On NAB being termed ‘black law’, the chairman called out previous rulers for being hypocritical and said that it was ‘convenient’ to criticise now that those who ruled before were being prosecuted under the very legislation.
“The Supreme Court would have abolished the accountability watchdog had it been practising under ‘black’ law,” he retorted.
Defending the country’s top watchdog, Iqbal said that the NAB was well within the constitutional framework to operate and its primary objective is to bring back the nation’s looted wealth. He pinned blame on corruption, adding that “the country would not be knee-deep in debts if past leaders had not multiplied their wealth through illegal means”.
“The NAB and corruption cannot go hand-in-hand,” he said taking an apparent jibe at former president Asif Ali Zardari who in a previous interview had stated that NAB and economy cannot function together.
On plea bargains, the bureau’s chairman maintained that it needs improvement. He said that a common man’s interest could not be served without thorough laws in regards to striking plea deals.
He conceded that there is a room of improvement in plea bargain section under National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999.
“No power can dictate NAB. Law will definitely come into action against corrupt elements,” he said, adding that if there was no corruption, Pakistan would not have to borrow loans.
He said the time has gone when corruption was overlooked. “If anyone commits corruption, then he/she will have to confront NAB.”
He said that he has always welcomed criticism, but it should be logical and conceivable.
“Nearly every day, we hear that NAB is a black law. If it was a black law, the Supreme Court would have abolished it,” he said.
Furthermore, he appealed to the general public to investigate before investing in housing societies.
