ISLAMABAD, April 26: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has issued its annual report-2007 without mentioning total recovery made by the bureau so far and the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) that made the organisation toothless by giving immunity to politicians and senior bureaucrats involved in alleged corruption cases registered before 1999.

It is for the first time that NAB did not provide any detail about total recovery in corruption cases. However, it has been learnt from government sources that the bureau has so far recovered Rs223 billion in terms of plea bargain and voluntary return. In its report, NAB only mentioned the recovery made in 2007, which was Rs268 million.

It also did not provide any detail about high-profile cases relating to politicians, businessmen and bureaucrats who benefited from NRO or those whose cases did not fall under the ambit of the ordinance as these were registered after 1999.

Under the NRO, NAB cannot register any case against politicians without getting approval from parliament in future. The ordinance has suggested formation of a parliamentary committee to which cases of politicians would be referred by NAB before registration.

Meanwhile, NAB provided details to the National Assembly about action so far taken against people during the last five years.

In a written reply to a question raised by MNA Chaudhry Mohammad Barjees Tahir, the minister-incharge Prime Minister’s Secretariat informed the house that NAB had taken action against 5,288 persons including politicians, bureaucrats and retired personnel of armed forces.

Prominent among those against whom inquiry was conducted were: Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chief Minister Sindh; Syed Zafar Ali Shah former MNA; Abdul Sattar Wahani, Mir Bayar Mari, Aslam Buledi, ex-MPA; Sardar Yaqoob Nasir, President Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz Balochistan; Tariq Mehmood Khetran, ex-MPA. Lt-Col (retired) Mohammad Afzal, ex-chairman Steel Mills; Ali Afzal Jadoon, ex-MPA; Rai Mansab Ali, ex-MNA; Naheed Khan, former MNA; Maj-Gen (retired) Askari Raza Malik, ex-DG National Logistic Cell; Mian Merajuddin, ex-MPA; Ghumman Qadir Palejo, ex-MPA; Mohammad Shah Haroon, ex-MPA; Lt-Col Maqbool Hussain, RV&F; Brig (retired) Mohammad Rashid, director RV&F; Rear Admiral (retired) Akbar Hussain Khan, ex-Chairman Karachi Port Trust; Capt (retired) Faisal Farooqi, shipping master PNSC; Irfanullah Marwat, MPA; Imtiaz Sheikh, ex-MPA; Brig (retd) Manzoor Malik, ex-DG Lahore Development Authority; Maj (retd) Ghulam Hussain Khuhro, DIG Superintendent Home; Maj (retd) Iftikhar Ali, Secretary ABAD Cooperative Housing Society Rawalpindi; Maj (retd) Akhtar Zaman Babar (army); Maj (retd) Mohammad Akram of Pakistan Rangers, Maj (retd) Nisar Ahmed Chaudhry, MS Money Marshal; Mohammad Rana Afzal, ex-MPA; Maj (retd) Tipu Sultan, Deputy Director Survey of Pakistan; Javed Akbar Khan, ex-MPA; Abdul Khaliq Vadera, ex-MPA and former health minister; Naqeebullah Malik, ex-MPA an former minister for P&D, and Mir Aslam Bazinjo, ex-minister.

The minister said investigation was carried out against 1,924 people including Zulfiqar Magsi, former CM and present Governor Balochistan; Syed Khurshid Shah, federal minister for labour (five cases were registered against him when he was education minister); Mohammad Javed Mian, Chairman PTCL; Anwar Saifullah Khan, former petroleum minister; Abdul Ahad Malik, former MPA; Farooq Syed Khan, ex-MPA; Abdul Kahar Wadan, ex-MPA; Atiqur Rehman, ex-MPA; Ghulamuddin, MNA; Mir Baz Khetran, former MPA and present vice-president PPP.

NAB said it entered into a plea bargain with only one person during the last five years - Chaudhry Hakim Ali, ex MPA, MS Land Mark Construction.

It said those who were convicted included Ghulam Haider, director land CDA; Sardar Nisar Ali Hazara, ex-MPA; Maj (retd) Tariq Mehmood Khan, chairman Asjaria Town Housing Scheme Islamabad, and Maj (retd) Anwarul Haq, director Askaraia Town Housing Scheme.