Poll shows majority think anti-graft body is doing well
SUPPORT OF 59% REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO TACKLE CORRUPTION, NAB OFFICIAL SAYS
The National Accountability Bureau believes in ‘Accountability for All’ and is carrying on its job without any discrimination or bias against any particular person, individual or institution, a bureau spokesperson said.
The results of a new survey show 59 per cent of Pakistanis are satisfied with the performance of the anti-graft body, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), saying it is going in the right direction in its crackdown on corruption.
The survey, conducted by Gallup & Gilani Pakistan between October 8 and 15, 2018, among men and women in all the four provinces, found that most people think the NAB is doing its job well and “its operations against corrupt elements in society are being taken above any prejudice; and any action against any public officeholders should not be seen as politically-motivated or at the behest of the rulers”.
Whereas 59 per cent endorsed NAB’s operations, 37 per cent expressed dissatisfaction with it. They accused the antigraft body of political victimisation, against one major party.
According to them, the recent arrests of the former chief minister of Punjab and opposition leader of the House in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif, and before that the arrests of Fawad Hasan Fawad and Ahad Cheema by the NAB, were taken at the behest of powerful circles.
Review of operations
Besides “for and against” groups, the remaining four per cent are clueless about the NAB’s working, the survey outcome shows.
Meanwhile the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman, while leading a meeting of senior officers and officials of the bureau, reviewed a number of matters pertaining to its ongoing operations.
The findings of a survey conducted by Gallup & Gilani Pakistan were also shared with the meeting. The chairman of the NAB, while welcoming the survey’s outcome, observed it would further boost the morale of the NAB team.
Eradicating corruption from all tiers of society is a priority for NAB, the chairman said. Later, talking to Gulf News ,an NAB spokesperson said the 59 per cent trust in NAB shows people want an end to corruption and support the anti-graft body’s resolve.
The NAB, he said, believes in “Accountability for All” and is carrying on its job without any discrimination or bias against any particular person, individual or institution.
Shahbaz Sharif, on October 17 while addressing the National Assembly, had alleged a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-NAB nexus was active in the country to curb opposition voices. He also alleged that the NAB, acting at the behest of the ruling PTI, arrested him days before the by-elections only to manipulate the results.
Speaking on the floor of the House, Shahbaz Sharif said that for the first time in the country’s political history, an Opposition leader was arrested without any proof and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidates were also arrested during the election campaign.
In the backdrop of criticism by the opposition, the survey findings help the anti-graft body to win public support, analysts said.