NAB chairman, PG directed to appear in CJP's chamber

The Supreme Court on Monday took exception to a practice by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of leaking information to media. "The NAB has no right to ridicule anyone and we would not allow this kind of accountability," observed Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar. The CJP was hearing a matter relating to excessive salaries of CEOs and officers of public sector companies in Punjab. "This practice of the anti-corruption watchdog would discourage foreign investors," he remarked. "Do you want to drive out foreign investors from the country?" he asked the Prosecutor General and directed him appear with the NAB Chairman in his chamber on next Monday to discuss the issue.
The Prosecutor General stated that the NAB Chairman Javed Iqbal had initiated a process of strict internal accountability. He said some individuals may be involved in such practice but the institution under the chairmanship of Jave Iqbal had been acting strictly in accordance with law.
Chief Justice Nisar said there was a consideration at the time of the chairman's appointment that a retired judge, if appointed, could save the bureau from the wrath of Supreme Court. He observed that the proceedings of the Bureau were privileged in nature and could not be disclosed to media officially. "People summoned by the NAB come to know about summons through media in most of the cases," the Chief Justice said.
He said the court had proofs that the Bureau treated people unjustly without possessing any evidence against them. Meanwhile, the court was informed that 39 out of 56 officers worked or working in the public sector companies agreed to voluntarily return the salaries they received excessive to the regular salaries being government servants.
Representing at least 20 officers, senior lawyer Ahsan Bhoon asked the court to grant one-year time for the return of the salaries in installments but the Chief Justice refused to grant a long period for the purpose. He directed the officers to deposit the amount to the NAB within three months and asked the Bureau to start recovery from those who were not willing to return their excessive salaries.