ISLAMABAD: Out of total recovery of Rs714 billion in white collar crime cases since its inception in 1999, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has recovered over Rs487.5bn during the last three years with its Rawalpindi region chapter showing best performance through its major contribution to the recoveries.

According to an official document, NAB recovered Rs487.515bn during 2018-2020 in white collar crime cases. Whereas total recoveries in 2020 amounted to Rs323.78bn, Rs141.4bn were recovered in 2019 and Rs22.172bn in 2018.

During last three years, NAB Rawal­pindi region recovered Rs290bn, followed by Karachi region which fetched Rs93.1bn. NAB Lahore region collected only Rs72bn, NAB Sukkur Rs26bn, NAB Multan Rs4.1bn, NAB Balochistan Rs1.17bn and NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rs0.7bn.

Rawalpindi region chapter makes major contribution to recoveries

According to the official data, NAB Rawalpindi received 8,057 complaints in 2018, 8,727 in 2019 and 4,287 in 2020 and all complaints were disposed of after due scrutiny. Presently no complaint is under process.

NAB Rawalpindi filed 213 references in accountability courts in 2018, 233 in 2019 and 246 in 2020.

Similarly, NAB Karachi received 10,561 complaints in 2018, 11,381 in 2019 and 6,483 in 2020. All complaints were disposed of and no complaint is pending. NAB Karachi filed 46 references in 2018, 28 in 2019 and 30 in 2020.

NAB Lahore received 10,211 complaints in 2018, 14,008 in 2019 and 5,023 in 2020. Presently 757 complaints are under process. NAB Lahore filed 74 references in 2018, 55 in 2019 and 38 in 2020.

NAB KP received 5,756 complaints in 2018, 4,397 in 2019 and 2,474 in 2020 and presently 307 complaints are under process. NAB KP filed 29 references in 2018, 20 in 2019 and nine in 2020.

NAB Balochistan received 1,191 complaints in 2018, 836 in 2019 and 473 in 2020 and all were disposed of. It filed 13 references in 2018, 17 in 2019 and 24 in 2020.

NAB Sukkur received 20,575 complaints in 2018, 26,161 in 2019 and 29,208 in 2020 and all were disposed of. It filed 89 references in 2018, 108 in 2019 and 136 in 2020.

NAB Multan received 4,695 complaints in 2018, 5,555 in 2019 and 3,063 in 2020 and presently 165 complaints are under process.

It filed 80 references in 2018, 118 in 2019 and 117 in 2020.

Fake accounts cases In a recent meeting chaired by NAB Chairman retd Justice Javed Iqbal, he was informed that the anti-graft watchdog had recovered Rs23.852bn in fake bank accounts cases.

He was apprised that 14 references had so far been filed in accountability courts, including those against former president Asif Ali Zardari, former prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Liaquat Ali Qaimkhani, Khursheed Anwar Jamali, Ejaz Haroon and management of Bahria Town.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2021