Islamabad: Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has dismissed 23 of its officers from service on charges of misconduct and negligence in performance of their duties. At least 32 others have been awarded penalties.
The disciplinary action has been initiated by the NAB chairman, Justice (retired) Javed Iqbal, against 85 NAB officials, according to a spokesman of the apex anti-corruption organisation.
“The NAB chairman is of the view that self-accountability is necessary towards adoption of ‘Accountability for All’. NAB is absolutely committed to eradication of corruption from the country across the board,” the spokesman said.
Mohammad Ramzan Khan, deputy director, NAB Lahore, was suspended on charges of inefficiency and negligence in performance of official duties with immediate effect.
An inquiry has been ordered for completion of codal formalities, including an opportunity given to Ramzan Khan to defend charges against him according to the law.
NAB has also suspended its Sukkur acting Deputy Director Kashif Mumtaz Gondal on charges of corruption, misconduct for three months and a formal inquiry has begun against him.
Local media reports suggested that many complaints were lodged against Gondal not only with NAB but also with police and a case was being heard against him in the court of Justice of Peace in Mandi Bahauddin. Gondal was reportedly accused of depriving people of their land by occupying it illegally and using police for threatening people who raised their voice against him.
“Gondal is known as one of the most ‘powerful’ officers of NAB who has links with top politicians and bureaucrats and was allegedly involved in getting ‘undue’ favours by misusing his office”, Dawn newspaper reported.
The recent action by NAB against officials involved in illegal activities and negligence in performance of duties demonstrates anti-graft organisation’s commitment towards eradicating corruption from Pakistan at all levels.
Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family are facing three corruption cases in the accountability court after the NAB filed references against them in light of the Supreme Court’s historic July 2017 verdict in the Panama Papers case which led to disqualification of Nawaz Sharif.
Recently, the NAB chief warned of strict action against officials found involved in any form of corruption or influencing inquiry for any reason, adding that self-accountability is the basic requirement for adoption of “Accountability for All”.
