State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali on Saturday said all the state institutions including the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) are independent. Talking to media at Fesco headquarters, the PML-N leader said NAB could initiate investigation if there was any proof against anyone in Punjab and the government had no objection if all the institutions worked within their limits.
He said the ruling PML-N had always supported accountability and never created hurdle in the process but it was inappropriate to toss anyone's turban without any proof. To a question, he said the country was progressing due to the government's positive policies. The NAB is one of the country's most important institutions entrusted with rooting out corruption. On one hand NAB comes under intense pressure by the opposition parties for its lenience toward investigating cases against government, and on the other hand if they do dare scrutinize such cases, they get scolded by the highest officials in the government.
Last month, while addressing the PML-N workers in Bahawalpur, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had stated that NAB was abusing its authority and defaming and harassing individuals over false allegations. He warned NAB that it must act responsibly; saying that its abuse of authority and harassment of innocent people raises serious concerns. Previously, the NAB had provided the Supreme Court of Pakistan with a total of 150 'mega corruption' cases worth billions of rupees. The documents provided include corruption cases against the likes of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and many other prominent personalities.
Earlier, NAB was heavily criticized by Justice Amir Hani Muslim who questioned the recent hiring made by NAB and asked for the total number of people who were working at senior positions in the bureau. Justice Amir criticized NAB for misusing the 'plea bargain act' and questioned the Chairman NAB for the credibility of the act used by the institution as a process of consolidation in major corruption cases.
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