Amir Latif, a contractor for Lahore’s Orange Line Metro Train Project who was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in February, has confessed to irregularities and agreed to pay Rs 250 million in a plea bargain. The bureau approved the move in an executive board meeting and decided to send the case to the accountability court.
“Amir Latif was accused of embezzlement worth billions of rupees in development projects in the NA-81 constituency of Faisalabad,” a NAB prosecutor in Punjab said. “It was revealed during investigation that the accused received payments from various departments without the approval of the competent authority.”
According to media reports, his arrest had “angered” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who made a statement of displeasure on February 16, without directly citing Amir’s detention. He also signaled that the government was considering amending the laws under which NAB operates if its chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry did address his reservations.
“NAB is harassing government officers. They are afraid of making decisions because of NAB’s harassment,” he had said in a statement. “It terrifies government officers, hindering them from performing their duty.” Sharif said NAB officials raided the houses and offices of
He further says the NAB officials entered the houses and offices of “innocent people” without verifying the authenticity of the charges against them. “I have brought the matter to the notice of the NAB chairman a couple of times. He should take notice. Otherwise, the government will take legal action in this regard.”
There were reports that the NAB chairman was invited to a meeting in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat on February 18, but he declined to meet Sharif. A source privy to the development confirmed such an invitation was made, but government officials have denied any such meeting was planned.
Some analysts have said Mr Qamar Zaman Chaudhry has the support of the military establishment, but there is no way to verify any links. Lawyer and analyst Yasser Latif Hamdani does think NAB is being used “strategically” to keep the PML-N from getting out of line. “So long as the civil-military relationship remains comfortable, NAB will not act against the senior PML-N leadership,” he claims.
Last week, an executive district officer for finance arrested by NAB, but no charges have been framed so far.
In Sindh, where the Pakistan People’s Party rules, NAB’s actions have been more stern and target key party leaders and government functionaries.
A senior NAB prosecutor says the bureau has already begun investigations against some of PML-N’s key ministers. One of them is Rana Mashood. He said NAB was also looking into embezzlement of funds during the Youth Festival arranged by the Punjab government, and large projects such as LDA city, the Metro Bus project and the Orange Line Metro Train.
Rana Mashood, who is the provincial minister for Education, said he was in favor of accountability and would cooperate with NAB, but added that he had not been told on what grounds they had initiated an inquiry against him. “It is my legal right to go to court about it,” he said. “My media trial has already begun.”
PPP veteran Nadeem Afzal Chan is not satisfied with accountability efforts in Punjab. “Politicians, judiciary, media and the establishment are all responsible for the problems faced by Pakistan,” he says, “but it seems that only politicians, and specifically only the PPP, are accountable. No factions of the Muslim League were ever made accountable in Pakistan.”
“It is not a question of discrimination between the PPP and PML-N,” says Yasser Latif Hamdani. “It is more about keeping the Sharifs in check and in line.”
According to political analyst Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi, it does seem that NAB is more active in Sindh than in Punjab. Its measures have had more impact in Sindh, and any investigations in Punjab have been quiet and non-transparent, he says. “Unlike Sindh, NAB has not laid their hands on major political leaders in Punjab, although some of them have the reputation of using state resources in a partisan and personalized manner,” says Rizvi.
The prime minister’s criticism of NAB may have reflected genuine concerns, he says, but the timing of the statement was politically motivated. “When NAB pursued accountability in Sindh, the PML-N leadership did not complain about any problems with its procedures. There was no complaint about its rough treatment of those accused of corruption or misuse of state resources. Several PML-N leaders supported NAB’s accountability in Sindh. It was the PPP that complained about the disposition of NAB and the FIA.”
Senior journalist and political analyst Zahid Hussain believes that is about to change. “It seems that they have now started taking Punjab seriously as well.”
According to legal expert and lawyer Ali Ibrahim, the question is not pertinent. It is NAB’s job to investigate corruption and it may go on and prosecute a suspect if the case is strong. It does not constitute a legal defense to say that other suspects are at large.
“The primary purpose of NAB is to investigate and prosecute corruption, especially government corruption. Thus, it goes without saying that if NAB authorities are investigating or prosecuting a sitting minister or an adviser, someone who comes through the political process, a case against NAB for misusing or transgressing its power cannot be made,” he says.
Hassan Naqvi is a Lahore-based journalist who covers politics and militancy
Twitter: @Hassannaqvi5
“Amir Latif was accused of embezzlement worth billions of rupees in development projects in the NA-81 constituency of Faisalabad,” a NAB prosecutor in Punjab said. “It was revealed during investigation that the accused received payments from various departments without the approval of the competent authority.”
According to media reports, his arrest had “angered” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who made a statement of displeasure on February 16, without directly citing Amir’s detention. He also signaled that the government was considering amending the laws under which NAB operates if its chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry did address his reservations.
“NAB is harassing government officers. They are afraid of making decisions because of NAB’s harassment,” he had said in a statement. “It terrifies government officers, hindering them from performing their duty.” Sharif said NAB officials raided the houses and offices of
He further says the NAB officials entered the houses and offices of “innocent people” without verifying the authenticity of the charges against them. “I have brought the matter to the notice of the NAB chairman a couple of times. He should take notice. Otherwise, the government will take legal action in this regard.”
There were reports that the NAB chairman was invited to a meeting in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat on February 18, but he declined to meet Sharif. A source privy to the development confirmed such an invitation was made, but government officials have denied any such meeting was planned.
"To say that other suspects are at large does not constitute a legal defense"
Some analysts have said Mr Qamar Zaman Chaudhry has the support of the military establishment, but there is no way to verify any links. Lawyer and analyst Yasser Latif Hamdani does think NAB is being used “strategically” to keep the PML-N from getting out of line. “So long as the civil-military relationship remains comfortable, NAB will not act against the senior PML-N leadership,” he claims.
Last week, an executive district officer for finance arrested by NAB, but no charges have been framed so far.
In Sindh, where the Pakistan People’s Party rules, NAB’s actions have been more stern and target key party leaders and government functionaries.
A senior NAB prosecutor says the bureau has already begun investigations against some of PML-N’s key ministers. One of them is Rana Mashood. He said NAB was also looking into embezzlement of funds during the Youth Festival arranged by the Punjab government, and large projects such as LDA city, the Metro Bus project and the Orange Line Metro Train.
Rana Mashood, who is the provincial minister for Education, said he was in favor of accountability and would cooperate with NAB, but added that he had not been told on what grounds they had initiated an inquiry against him. “It is my legal right to go to court about it,” he said. “My media trial has already begun.”
PPP veteran Nadeem Afzal Chan is not satisfied with accountability efforts in Punjab. “Politicians, judiciary, media and the establishment are all responsible for the problems faced by Pakistan,” he says, “but it seems that only politicians, and specifically only the PPP, are accountable. No factions of the Muslim League were ever made accountable in Pakistan.”
“It is not a question of discrimination between the PPP and PML-N,” says Yasser Latif Hamdani. “It is more about keeping the Sharifs in check and in line.”
According to political analyst Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi, it does seem that NAB is more active in Sindh than in Punjab. Its measures have had more impact in Sindh, and any investigations in Punjab have been quiet and non-transparent, he says. “Unlike Sindh, NAB has not laid their hands on major political leaders in Punjab, although some of them have the reputation of using state resources in a partisan and personalized manner,” says Rizvi.
The prime minister’s criticism of NAB may have reflected genuine concerns, he says, but the timing of the statement was politically motivated. “When NAB pursued accountability in Sindh, the PML-N leadership did not complain about any problems with its procedures. There was no complaint about its rough treatment of those accused of corruption or misuse of state resources. Several PML-N leaders supported NAB’s accountability in Sindh. It was the PPP that complained about the disposition of NAB and the FIA.”
Senior journalist and political analyst Zahid Hussain believes that is about to change. “It seems that they have now started taking Punjab seriously as well.”
According to legal expert and lawyer Ali Ibrahim, the question is not pertinent. It is NAB’s job to investigate corruption and it may go on and prosecute a suspect if the case is strong. It does not constitute a legal defense to say that other suspects are at large.
“The primary purpose of NAB is to investigate and prosecute corruption, especially government corruption. Thus, it goes without saying that if NAB authorities are investigating or prosecuting a sitting minister or an adviser, someone who comes through the political process, a case against NAB for misusing or transgressing its power cannot be made,” he says.
Hassan Naqvi is a Lahore-based journalist who covers politics and militancy
Twitter: @Hassannaqvi5