NAB chairman to give in-camera briefing to PAC on Jan 6

ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has summoned its next session on January 6 for an in-camera briefing of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman Justice Retired Javed Iqbal, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

Rana Tanveer said that it will be an in-camera session in which the committee summoned details of recoveries from the NAB.

The NAB chairman Justice Retired Javed Iqbal reached Parliament House today and appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Upon arriving at the Parliament House, the NAB chairman Javed Iqbal told the reporters that the importance of the parliament is obvious. He added that he failed to appear before the parliament due to his busy schedule.

Iqbal said that the comments of those persons who are facing corruption cases did not bother him. He rejected the allegations of ‘selective accountability’.

During the Public Accounts Committee’s session being chaired by Rana Tanveer, the PAC chairman welcomed the National Accountability Bureau chairman in the session.

Javed Iqbal said that the supremacy of the parliament is obvious and he realised the fact that he did not appear one or two times despite being summoned due to legitimate reasons.

READ: PM ORDERS GOVT MEMBERS TO ENSURE ATTENDANCE IN PAC SESSIONS

“I’m not a Mughal monarch who keeps right not to appear before the Parliament. I had always appeared before the PAC and considered it as an honour for me. I will also appear in future whenever being summoned.”

He said that he remained NAB chairman for four years and the audit process was completed each year. He then apprised the PAC that the recovery money was not in the shape of currency notes.

Senator Talha Mahmood said that the NAB chairman is a respectable person for them, however, he should appear before the PAC.

Another PAC member Noor Alam Khan has also welcomed the appearance of the NAB chairman. He said that they are also fighting against corruption.

Khan was of the view that accountability should be carried out indiscriminately across the country instead of only targeting the political personalities.

READ: PAC TO SERVE NOTICE TO CHAIRMAN NAB OVER HIS ABSENCE IN PARLIAMENTARY HEARING

NAB chairman replied to Noor Alam Khan that the questions were not part of the agenda of today’s PAC session, however, he will give answers to them. He asked the PAC chairman to hold a separate session to get answers to Noor Alam Khan’s queries.

Noor Alam Khan questioned the NAB chairman regarding the hike in salaries of the bureau’s employees.

Javed Iqbal replied that the salaries of NAB employees had not increased for the last 18 years. PAC chairman asked the NAB chairman to stop further discussion on the ‘additional increase’ in the salaries of NAB employees.

Rana Tanveer said that the committee welcomed the anti-corruption watchdog’s actions against the illegal housing societies.

The NAB chairman said that unnecessary criticism was launched against the bureau as the institution handed over the recovered money to the concerned governments. The recovery money had also been handed over to the Sindh and Balochistan governments.

He sought PAC to allow him to give an in-camera briefing. Iqbal added that he is clarifying his position before the PAC for avoiding appearing in the headlines tomorrow.

READ: NAB CHAIRMAN TO APPEAR BEFORE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE ON DEC 7

PAC chairman Rana Tanveer asked the NAB chairman not to pay attention to the headlines as it is a routine thing. Tanveer said that the committee is ready to give chance to the NAB chairman for an in-camera briefing.

The PAC chairman said that they have a complaint about the NAB for not providing details of the corruption cases. PAC usually provided already prepared cases to the NAB, he added.

Javed Iqbal replied that 120 references had been filed by the NAB in light of the documents provided by the PAC. He said, “Give me a chance for in-camera briefing, if I fail to give a satisfactory response, then I will directly go to my home.”

Later, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) summoned its next session on January 6 for an in-camera briefing of the NAB chairman. Rana Tanveer said that it will be an in-camera session in which the committee summoned details of recoveries from the NAB.

On November 24, the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had decided to serve notice to Chairman NAB over failing to attend the PAC hearing.

The PAC Chairman Rana Tanveer Hussain had warned that the committee will exercise its powers to issue Javed Iqbal’s arrest warrant after serving notice.

The committee had also expressed its resentment over the absence of the Secretary PM Office, Secretary President Secretariat and the chairman NAB in the PAC session.

Later on November 25, the PAC Chairman Rana Tanveer Hussain had said that the NAB chairman will appear before the committee on December 7.