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ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice on Friday expressed concern over the apparent lack of effective action in mega corruption cases, stressing that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was established primarily to curb major corruption and protect public resources.
The committee, chaired by Senator Farooq Hamid Naek, reviewed NAB’s performance, institutional reforms and the existing accountability framework, with particular focus on mega corruption, institutional efficiency, protection of citizens’ rights and effective accountability.
NAB Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmed, Prosecutor General NAB, Deputy Chairman NAB and senior officials attended the meeting.
The committee stressed that NAB should concentrate on mega corruption and high-value cases, while comparatively smaller cases should be handled by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), provincial Anti-Corruption Establishments and other relevant agencies according to their respective mandates.
The senators also questioned the apparent absence of accountability proceedings against officials and institutions such as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Police and Customs, stressing that accountability should be applied fairly and uniformly across all public institutions.
The committee was briefed on amendments to the accountability framework, including the Rs500 million monetary threshold for NAB’s jurisdiction. It noted that Parliament had introduced the threshold amid concerns over the manner in which NAB had exercised its powers in the past. NAB Chairman Nazir Ahmed told the committee that the Bureau now considered it appropriate to review the threshold so that public office-holders and government officials involved in corruption involving amounts below Rs500 million could also be brought within an effective accountability mechanism.
The committee, however, stressed that any review should be considered within the broader framework of institutional mandates. It maintained that NAB should devote its resources to mega corruption cases, while matters outside its jurisdiction should be effectively pursued by the relevant investigative and accountability agencies.
The committee also raised concerns over false, frivolous and politically motivated complaints and questioned the lack of visible action against those responsible.
The NAB chairman said mechanisms had been introduced to prevent frivolous and unsubstantiated cases and, when specifically asked about action against those filing such complaints, assured the committee that results would soon be visible.
Senator Naek said accountability should strengthen public confidence in state institutions and no institution should be perceived as beyond the reach of accountability. At the same time, he stressed that the accountability process must respect the dignity, constitutional rights and due-process guarantees of every individual.
Naek also raised concerns over the manner in which NAB notices are issued and individuals are summoned for inquiries. He said follow-up notices should clearly mention the name of the accused person and specify the matter for which information was being sought, enabling the individual concerned to understand the nature of the proceedings.
The committee chairman further stressed that the initial notice should ordinarily seek the required information or documents, and that the person concerned should be summoned in person only if, after examining the response, the investigating officer finds the information insufficient or requires further clarification.
NAB Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmed assured the committee that the Bureau was institutionally committed to protecting the dignity and constitutional rights of individuals during investigations.
The committee was informed that NAB had introduced a mechanised monitoring system under which reports of alleged delays or harassment were generated within 24 hours. The NAB chairman said disciplinary action was initiated against officials where misconduct was established, while ensuring due-process safeguards.
He also said the reforms had resulted in a substantial reduction in the issuance of arrest warrants by NAB.
The committee was further informed that NAB had established a Business Facilitation Desk to assist the business community in resolving issues arising during accountability proceedings. Naek appreciated the initiative and stressed the need to create greater awareness about the facility so that businesses could benefit from it.
The Director General (Operations), NAB, gave the committee a comprehensive briefing on the Bureau’s performance over the past five years, with particular emphasis on institutional reforms introduced during the last three years.
During the past three-and-a-half years, NAB received budgetary allocations totalling Rs22.556 billion and reported recoveries of approximately Rs16.938 trillion.
The committee was also briefed on other changes to the accountability framework, including provisions concerning complaints of cheating the public at large, exclusions from NAB’s jurisdiction, the burden of proof and requirements relating to monetary gain in cases involving misuse of authority.
The NAB chairman also underscored the importance of financial transparency and encouraged citizens to conduct financial transactions exceeding Rs50,000 through the formal banking system.
After detailed deliberations, the committee decided to continue its review of NAB’s performance, particularly its action against mega corruption, the effectiveness of the accountability framework and proposed legislative reforms, at its next meeting.
The committee also considered disparities in the remuneration of federal and provincial law officers and emphasised the need for greater parity to strengthen the legal system.
Consideration of the Juvenile Justice System (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduced by Senator Sarmad Ali, was deferred due to the mover’s absence. The meeting concluded with directions for implementation of the committee’s decisions, while deliberations on the remaining agenda items, including NAB’s performance and accountability reforms, will continue in subsequent sittings.
