ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman on Wednesday submitted a report in the Supreme Court for enhancing investigation officers and prosecution team capacity to secure maximum success in references filed in Accountability Courts.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed on 23-07-20 had ordered the NAB chairman to take measures that when a reference is filed before Accountability Court then the same is decided within 30 days as per the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.
Due to peculiar nature, characteristics and the technicalities in detection of white-collar crime, the NAB has decided to engage eminent Chartered Accountants, experienced and reputable bankers, income tax experts and eminent lawyer and tax practitioners and experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory of Punjab to assist in inquiry/investigation to detect and prove the crime.
These people will be hired on a case to case basis and their services will be utilised to ensure better investigation by employing their expertise and seek benefit from the latest technology.
The report said that the efforts were also underway to arrange trained staff from Forensic Laboratory, Lahore to facilitate the NAB personnel for purposes of training and detection of the crime, and hopefully the desired results will start coming in a short time.
No investigation will be conducted alone by the investigating officer.
A combined team will be put in to complete the exercise.
It will comprise investigation officer, the case officer, the director concerned or the additional director concerned who are well conversant, and experienced people with impeccable integrity. They will be assisted by the experts hired, if required.
The evidence collected will be scrutinised during the course of inquiry and investigation by the deputy prosecutor general and a dedicated prosecutor shall be part of the investigation to ensure that the incriminating material gathered withstands the test of judicial scrutiny, before finalising the matter.
After the completion of the investigation in light of the procedure, a draft reference will be put up before the Regional Board, headed by director general of the concerned region comprising deputy prosecutor general and others who will hold in-depth scrutiny of oral and documentary evidence.
In case, they are of the opinion that the case is fit for filing of reference, then they will state so with reasons, and thereafter, refer the matter to a committee comprising deputy chairman, director general (Operation), additional prosecutor general of the region.
The committee will hold in-depth analysis and incise the matter, and will also examine all deficiencies and loopholes, if found and suggest remedial measures.
After this exercise, the matter shall be put before the Executive Board Meeting, comprising chairman, deputy chairman, prosecutor general, director general (Operation) and all other members of the board.
They will examine the oral and documentary evidence in-depth, and if convinced, will forward the reference to the region for filling the same in the Accountability Court.
A Prosecution Witness Development Cell is being set up in all the regions, which will ensure the presence of all prosecution witnesses in the court on each date of hearing and also assist the court, so that the evidence is recorded on a daily basis.
No unnecessary adjournments will be sought by the prosecutors.
In case an adjournment is taken, then the concerned prosecutor will submit a report to the Director General of the Regions concerned stating the reasons.
The report said for high-profile cases senior advocates with vast experience and reputation would be hired on a case to case basis. These advocates will be reporting to the Director General of the Region on a regular basis and updating him regarding the progress of the case.
Arrangement is being made to engage prosecutor, who will integrate with the investigation team to discover and analyse the incriminating and prosecutable evidence for presentation before the court to secure maximum success.
The NAB chairman will be personally reviewing and evaluating the reports submitted by each Region on a monthly basis regarding the progress made in the references.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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