ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) ’s annual report for 2017 was presented to President Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday, containing overall performance of the accountability watchdog during a period of 12 months.
Chairman NAB retired Justice Javed Iqbal presented the report to the president.
According to the report, as many as 107 people were removed from the Exit Control List (ECL) while 93 were placed on it on the recommendation of the NAB last year.
In 2017, 93 names were put on the ECL including 39 on the direction of NAB Karachi, 27 on the recommendation of NAB Rawalpindi, 14 on the advice of NAB Lahore, 10 on the direction of NAB Multan and three on the recommendation of NAB Balochistan chapter.
The report goes on to claim that the government was reluctant to place the names of ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family on the ECL.
The report details that NAB had asked to place former the name of prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his children Maryam Nawaz, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz and his son-in-law retired Capt Safdar on the ECL, but the government didn’t take any action in this regard.
Some high-profile names were also placed on the ECL in corruption cases including leasing out Pakistan Railways-owned land at nominal rates to the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club.
While appreciating the annual report, the president emphasized that corruption could be only eliminated from the society if all the requirements of justice were fulfilled.
He directed that reservations of the courts and public against NAB should be addressed.
The president also underlined that the ongoing development process should not be affected by the steps taken by the accountability institutions and the officers.
He said eradication of corruption and firm accountability were considered as national agenda therefore, all efforts should be made to enhance the confidence of public in such institutions.
