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Issue of NAB Chief’s reputation and blame game politics

[wp_ad_camp_1] Issue of Nab Chief’s reputation and blame game politics

By Zaib Azkaar Hussain

Karachi

The blame game politics has become the order of the day after a so-called video scandal surfaced that targeted National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) Chairman Javed Iqbal.

Some are terming that a conspiracy hatched by some opposition leaders and the others have termed the government and even the prime minister behind the scandal.

Another development was an immediate registration of cases against suspected blackmailers. No doubt registration of cases is a legal way to question the accused involved in any cases but the time factor matters. At this phase the practice proved to be funny and a bureaucratic tactic to deal the matter.

On the other hand some politicians are demanding resignation of the NAB chief but it is also an old fashion thing to remove one and appoint another.

Instead is it not a high time that all the stakeholders should sit and put their heads together to formulate a legal framework justifying the existence of the organisation itself and ensure its smooth working without being biased to anyone? And also a sound legal system is the need of hour that could ensure working of the organisation even if its head tenders its resignation or seized to work.

A reference after the video got surfaced, has been filed against a man and his wife, naming them as the prime suspects behind the recent “propaganda” against the bureau’s chairman as he along with six other complainants had allegedly been blackmailed and defrauded by the couple.

Some footage and a few audio clips, were first aired by a private TV Channel that showed a man who was  talking to a woman, while making inappropriate remarks. The TV channel claimed and linked the male voice with the NAB chairman, and the allegations were categorically denied, terming it as the propaganda of a blackmailers’ group. The bureau, in its press release, said that the purpose of the audio clips was to “damage the goodwill of NAB and its chairman.”

The anti-graft body said that “the news channel has not only already admitted that the news was fake and contrary to the facts but also apologized to the NAB chairman for causing him distress.

NAB said that it has “not only already arrested two members of the blackmailing group but also approved the filing of references against them”.

It further said that the suspected group is nominated in 42 FIRs (first information reports) across the country on allegations of blackmailing, kidnapping for ransom and mass robberies — the evidence of which “NAB already has”.

An accountability court sent out a notice to both suspects and asked them to appear in court on June 17. The investigation officer in the case has also been summoned.

According to the reference filed by NAB, 36 witnesses recorded their statements with the bureau against the two suspects. An accountability court sent out a notice to both suspects and asked them to appear in court on June 17. The investigation officer in the case has also been summoned.

According to the reference filed by NAB, 36 witnesses recorded their statements with the bureau against the two suspects. It was alleged that two “lured and defrauded six complainants by collecting millions of rupees through corrupt, dishonest and illegal practices and hence gained illegal monitory (sic) practices.”

According to the reference, the complainants were cheated “on the pretext of processing their visas, installation of towers of mobile companies, to get them relief in cases and to purchase cheaper bulldozers for them”. The man (husband of the accuser) is already behind the bar.

It was stated that the “NAB identified an individual named Farooq as the group’s ringleader, saying that he is “currently incarcerated in Kot Lakhpat Jail”. The regulatory body (Pemra) also reminded the controversial channel that “airing such defamatory and false propaganda [and] maligning a dignitary and head of an important institution amounts to sheer violation of [the] Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct 2015” and Pemra Ordinance 2002. The channel’s CEO has also been directed to appear for a personal hearing at the Pemra headquarters in Islamabad on May 31, in person or through a representative. If the broadcaster fails to comply with the directives, Pemra added, it would initiate ex-parte proceedings against the media outlet.

If the action was taken before the airing of the video, it has a justification but in case an action was taken after the appearance of the video it would not produce a healthy impact.

Ends

 

 

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