The Director General National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Sindh Muhammad Altaf Bawani has said that catching white collar crimes was a difficult task but the NAB Sindh achieve success in detecting the corruption and initiating action on basis of solid evidences. Talking to media persons after presiding over the open katchery here at local circuit house on Friday afternoon, he said the cases of white collar crimes take years to solve in the world over therefore the delay in decision of such type of cases in Pakistan is not the matter of concern.
The NAB takes immediate action against the corruption of Rs 10 million or above on the basis of solid evidences, he said and added that the NAB can also initiate action on the basis of media reports. The media should extend cooperation with the NAB and expose corruption on basis of investigative reporting with strong proofs, he added.
The Director General NAB Sindh categorically dispelled the impression of granting relaxation to influential in the cases and said that six references are pending in the court against former provincial Minister Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq while NAB investigation against him remained continued. He also reminded the summoning of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali shah in the case of 361 appointments in Sindh Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (STEVTA) adding that investigation into the matter remained in progress.
He informed that no complaint against former SSP Rao Anwar has so far been received by NAB Sindh, however, action can be initiated on the basis of media reports based on solid evidences.
He said the performance of NAB Sindh is as good as compared to other provinces of the country, however due to report of some specific cases appeared in media, the negative impact cannot be ruled out.
Describing the procedure of plea bargaining in accordance to NAB laws, he said that if the accused released after depositing the amount, he or she cannot continue job in the government departments even the civilian also be declared disqualified of holding any public post in future under such circumstances.
Referring about open katchery, he informed that most of the complaints were related with Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) including issuance of detection bills. He said power theft worth billions of rupees is a critical issue and the NAB Sindh has taken action in this direction. About corruption in public relation department in HESCO, he informed that the complainant has been asked to submit written complaint or provide press clipping in this regard.
He informed that the concerned departments have been asked to submit replies against the complaints of non payment of outstanding dues in Seri Sugar Mills, corruption in Daman-e-Kohsar, education, WASA, local governments, anti-corruption establishment, as well as issues of water courses and illegal acts of builders.