After a bit of a 'storm in a tea cup', Admiral (Retd), Fasih Bukhari has finally been appointed to the vacant position of Chairman National Accountability Bureau, (NAB), without much hassle. Adm.(Retd), Bukhari, by and large, is regarded as a 'clean' man, whatever this relative connotation implies, with a clean past and service record.
Soon after his appointment, Bukhari is reported to have "vowed", (The News, October 17), that the position of the NAB chairman is a "huge challenge" and that, "he will come up to the nation's expectations in discharging his duties". Very comforting and encouraging statement and expressions of commitment to the entailing responsibilities, indeed! However, quip from the skeptical citizens, will be that, "taste of the pudding is in the eating" as one has to see, in context and tangible terms, how the new NAB chief performs in one of the most key and critical functions, created and established to trace, combat, eradicate corruption, white - collar crime, indict, bring the corrupt and the criminals to justice, a daunting task, indeed, not meant for the pliable, subservient and manipulative operatives.
The first test of Admiral Bukhari's resolve, commitment and vow to come up to the nation's expectation, will come up very soon in the context of the decisions and directives of the Supreme Court to implement its judgement relative to the cases under the issues of the despicable National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) opening of Swiss bank accounts and actions against the NRO beneficiaries. Until proved otherwise, Admiral Bukhari, as a man worth his salt, hopefully, will come up to the nation's expectations on these counts.
NAB is a woefully weak, ill - equipped, poorly managed, hugely politicised and a toothless organisation, manned mostly by a bunch of incompetent crony operatives. Admiral Bukhari's first job should be to reorganise this politically subservient organisation with competent, honest, experienced and dedicated professionals who are committed to fighting and eradication of rampant corruption and white collar crimes.
Detection, tracing, collection of irrefutable evidence, pursuing the perpetrators, their indictment for committing white collar crimes, trial under the law, recoveries of the ill - gotten wealth and ultimate dispensation of justice, is not an easy task by any stretch of imagination. This all needs a highly competent, skilful, trained, resourceful and fearless team of individuals, well versed and expert in the areas of banking, money laundering channels, such as the 'hawala' transactions, the Bermuda triangle modus - operandi, financial intelligence, related expertise, investigative techniques, international and local laws covering the entire gamut relative to corruption, and white collar crimes.
Unless the NAB is reorganised, made a stand - alone, independent national institution and inducted with requisite number of qualified non-partisan investigative experts, it will remain a useless, toothless, ineffective and subservient entity and a part of a manipulative, crooked and corrupt dispensation. One sincerely hopes that Admiral Bukhari will prove to be an impartial and honest head of a much maligned set - up and used organisation by the vested interest, and that he, "would use his professional abilities and vast experience to rise to the challenges of his designation" in the best interest of the country.
As said earlier, taste of the pudding is in its eating and not in its description on the menu card. Let us wait and see how quickly, with utmost commitment, impeccable impartiality, dedication, absolute diligence and perseverance, Admiral Bukhari initiates NRO related cases against its beneficiaries and makes moves to reopen the Swiss bank cases involving money laundering by the influential!
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