Anti-graft chief vows no let-up in mission for national interest

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman Justice (retired) Javed Iqbal has said that the institution will take steps that are in the interest of the country, and insisted that the NAB has never under been under any influence.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Iqbal said that the current economic crisis is not a government crisis, but a national crisis.

“When there is a national crisis, every man has the right to express his opinion,” he said. “The NAB is not responsible for the economic crisis. For the past few days, it is being said that the NAB has been behind the economic crisis in the country.”

“What has NAB to do with dollar’s increasing value?” Iqbal asked. “I am neither an economist nor a politician. I started my life from the judiciary, and my entire career is an open book.”

He continued: “We have never interfered in the telegraph transfer of the business community. If this question is being put to a public office holder (on) how they are sending and bringing in millions of rupees, then it is the accountability watchdog’s responsibility, keeping in mind the law, to inquire about it.

“Those keeping a public post are being questioned about money laundering, and will continue to be questioned about it.”

“However, I will never call up a business to the NAB. If someone has any grievances, they should inform me,” he said.

Iqbal further said that while governments change, country is forever.

“Whatever is in the interest of the country will be done. The NAB is connected to the state, not the government. Those days are long gone when there was no interrogation,” he said. “There is no question of taking dictation from the government.”

“Democracy is never under danger because of accountability,” he pointed out.

Speaking about the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) “grey” list, the chairman said, money laundering is one of the reasons why Pakistan is on the list.

“When Pakistan’s issue is on the international level, the NAB will not care about these few people. The blame game is one thing, but the interest of the country is another thing.”

“The NAB will always give importance to the interest of the country. We have to get Pakistan out of the ‘grey’ list and to improve Pakistan’s image on an international level,” Iqbal asserted.

“If the accountability watchdog is on such good terms with the government, why would we have so many difficulties in getting the budget approved?” he said. “On one hand, we have those who are on the NAB’s radar whose lawyers take millions in fees, and then there are our prosecutors who just take Rs100,000 or so.”