ISLAMABAD  -  The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has released a comprehensive report about 1,194 convictions of accused persons who were convicted during the last four years – the tenure of Justice (R) Javed Iqbal, Chairman NAB from October 10, 2017 to October 10, 2021 through vigorous prosecution, operations and all regional bureaus.

According to a press release issued by the NAB headquarters here yesterday, the Chairman appreciated the excellent performance of all Regional Bureaus of NAB and directed all concerned to continue their efforts in vigorously pursuing NAB cases in Accountability Courts.

As per details, 11 accused persons were convicted in 2021 till October 10, 2021 by the Accountability Courts Rawalpindi/Islamabad on the basis of solid evidence through vigorous prosecution of NAB Rawalpindi under section 10 of NAO-1999 through vigorous prosecution. Similarly, in the year 2020, 13 accused persons, in the year 2019, 09 accused persons, while in the year 2018 and 21 accused persons were convicted by Accountability Courts under section 10 of NAO-1999.

It was further informed that during 2021, 21 accused persons were convicted by Accountability Courts Rawalpindi/Islamabad on the basis of solid evidence through vigorous prosecution of NAB Rawalpindi under section 25(b) of NAO-1999. Similarly, in the year 2020, 21 accused persons, in the year 2019, 25 accused persons while in the year 2018, eight accused persons were convicted by Accountability Courts under section 25(b) of NAO-1999.

During the meeting, it was informed that seven accused persons were convicted in 2021 till September 2021, on the basis of solid evidence through vigorous prosecution of NAB Lahore in Accountability Courts, Lahore under section 10 of NAO-1999. Similarly, during the year 2020, 12 accused persons, in the year 2019, three accused persons, in the year 2018, 28 accused persons, while in the year 2017, 11 accused persons were convicted by Accountability Courts under section 10 of NAO-1999.

During the meeting, it was also further informed that 20 accused persons were convicted by Accountability Courts, Lahore during 2021 till September 2021 on the basis of solid evidence through vigorous prosecution of NAB Lahore under Section 25(b) of NAO-1999. In the year 2020, NAB Lahore got 26 accused persons convicted, in the year 2019, 59 accused persons and similarly in the year 2018, 62 accused persons were convicted by different Accountability Courts under section 25(b) of NAO-1999.

During the meeting, the Director General Operations informed the meeting that during 2021 till October 10, 2021, 53 accused persons were convicted by different Accountability Courts of Karachi on the basis of solid evidence through vigorous prosecution of NAB Karachi under section 10 of NAO-1999. In the year 2020, 24 accused persons, in the year 2019, 56 accused persons, similarly in the year 2018, 72 accused persons while from 10th October to 31 December 2017, 13 accused persons were convicted by different Accountability Courts under section 10 of NAO-1999.

The DG Operations further informed that during 2021 till September 2021, 17 accused persons were convicted by different Accountability Courts of Karachi on the basis of solid evidence through vigorous prosecution of NAB Karachi under section 25(b) of NAO-1999. Similarly, in the year 2020, 32 accused persons were convicted, in the year 2019, 78 accused persons, 40 accused persons in the year 2018, while 55 accused persons were convicted by different Accountability Courts under section 25(b) of NAO-1999 in the period from October, 2017.

During the meeting, it was also informed that NAB Sukkur during the year 2021 till October 10, 2021, 12 accused persons were convicted by Accountability Court, Sukkur on the basis of solid evidence through vigorous prosecution of NAB Sukkur under section 10 of NAO-1999. Similarly, during the year 2020, four accused persons, in the year 2019, nine accused persons, in the year 2018, 16 accused persons, while in the year 2017, 32 accused persons were convicted by learned Accountability Court Sukkur under section 10 of NAO-1999. During the meeting, it was further informed that during 2021 till September 2021, 42 accused persons from Accountability Court, Sukkur on the basis of solid evidence through vigorous prosecution of NAB Sukkur under Section 25(b) of NAO-1999. In the year 2020, 82 accused persons, in the year 2019, 112 accused persons, in the year 2018, 55 accused persons and similarly in the year 2017 from October 2017, 41 accused persons were convicted by Accountability Court Sukkur under section 25(b) of NAO-1999.

During the meeting, it was informed that during 2021 till October 10, 2021, 11 accused persons were convicted by Accountability Court, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the basis of solid evidence through vigorous prosecution of NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under section 10 of NAO-1999. Similarly, during the year 2020, eight accused persons, in the year 2019, 25 accused persons, while in the year 2018, 07 accused persons were convicted by different Accountability Courts under section 10 of NAO-1999.

The DG Operations further informed that during 2021 till September 2021, four accused persons were convicted by different Accountability Courts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the basis of solid evidence through vigorous prosecution of NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under section 25(b) of NAO-1999. Similarly, in year 2020, 06 accused persons, in the year 2019, 04 accused persons, while in the year 2018, nine accused persons were convicted by different Accountability Courts under section 25(b) of NAO-1999.

During the meeting, it was informed that during 2021 till October 2021, eight accused persons were convicted by Accountability Courts, Balochistan on the basis of solid evidence through vigorous prosecution of NAB Balochistan under section 10 of NAO-1999. Similarly, in the year 2020, three accused persons, in the year 2019, five accused persons, while in the year 2018, 04 accused persons were convicted by Accountability Courts (Balochistan) under section 10 of NAO-1999. It was further informed at the meeting that 11 persons were convicted by Accountability Courts, Balochistan under section 25(b) of NAO-1999 during the period from October 2017 till September 2021.

During the meeting, it was further informed that during 2021 till October 2021, four accused persons have been convicted by Accountability Court, Multan on the basis of solid evidence through vigorous prosecution of NAB Multan under section 10 of NAO-1999. Similarly, during the year 2020, 12 accused persons, in the year 2019, three accused persons, in the year 2018, seven accused persons, while in the year 2017, 03 accused persons were convicted by Accountability Court, Multan under section 10 of NAO-1999. During the meeting, it was further informed that during 2021 till September 2021, the NAB Multan in the year 2020 got convicted two accused persons by Accountability Court, Multan on the basis of solid evidence through vigorous prosecution of NAB Multan under Section 25(b) of NAO-1999. Similarly, in the year 2019, one accused persons, in the year 2018, 10 accused persons, while in the year 2017, two accused persons were convicted by Accountability Court Multan under section 25(b) of NAO-1999.

While addressing the meeting, the Chairman NAB said that the Bureau is committed to bring corrupt elements especially big fish to justice on the basis of solid evidence as per law. He said that logical conclusion of mega corruption cases is the top most priority of NAB.

The NAB has constituted a Combined Investigation Team (CIT) to benefit from the collective wisdom of senior supervisory officers which is lending quality. He said NAB is the focal institution of Pakistan under the UN Convention against corruption and Chairman of SAARC Anti-Corruption Forum.

He also said NAB is considered a role model organization in SAARC countries.

The Chairman said that NAB during the last four years has recovered Rs 539 billion directly and indirectly from corrupt elements with conviction ratio of 66 percent which is a record achievement as compared to other years which shows a commitment and dedication of NAB officers towards performance of their national responsibilities in eradication of corruption from the country.

He said that NAB’s anti-corruption strategy has proved very successful which has been lauded by reputed national and international organizations like Transparency International, Pakistan, World Economic Forum, PILDAT and Mishal Pakistan.