NAB flexes muscles to launch probe against politicians, ex-generals

ISLAMABAD: As the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is trying to flex its muscles against retired army officials and politicians accused of corruption, its Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry has officially sought the cooperation of the premier civilian intelligence agency, the Intelligence Bureau, to collect data and track the activities of specific individuals.

In a letter to Director General Intelligence Bureau (IB) Aftab Sultan, a copy of which is available with The News, the NAB chairman sought the agency’s help in assets data compilation and electronic monitoring across Pakistan.

NAB is currently probing mega corruption cases against two retired generals, a brother of a former army chief, two former prime ministers and several other high profile individuals.

“Sometimes in order to complete inquiries/investigation, there arises a need of assets data compilation, low-down details and electronic monitoring. Help on these accounts to the regional NAB office can be very useful in speedy and credible completion of the task,” says the letter signed by NAB chief Qamar Zaman Chaudhry.

“I would appreciate if instructions are passed to the provincial joint DGs at the field level to help the NAB regional DGs whenever a requirement for such cooperation arises,” the letter adds.

NAB is currently probing several high profile cases. A senior NAB official visited the General Headquarters (GHQ) last week to discuss mega scandals involving top former military officials.

The Bureau is probing the Rs 16 billion DHA City scam which involves Kamran Kayani, a brother of former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.  The anti-corruption watchdog is also investigating a Rs4.3 billion scam involving two retired military generals who served at top posts in the National Logistics Cell (NLC).

Two former prime ministers Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Yusuf Raza Gilani are also facing the NAB investigation in two separate corruption cases along with several former ministers and top bureaucrats.

In the past, NAB has been criticised for poor prosecution which resulted in majority of accused getting a clean chit from the court. Experts believe the IB’s cooperation could boost NAB’s prosecution through better evidence collection. When contacted, the director general IB confirmed the cooperation between the two agencies.

"We always cooperate with all federal and provincial level law enforcing agencies and we will definitely extend a helping hand to NAB too,” he said.Aftab Sultan said in the past, IB also helped the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in the arrest of key accused from various parts of the country. “Whatever information we have about any individual, we will share it with NAB," he added.—Originally published in The News