The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday ordered National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officers and their family members to declare their assets.

PAC Chairman Noor Alam Khan issued the directives during a meeting which was attended by NAB officials, including acting chairman Zahir Shah. The committee asked NAB officers, their spouses, children, siblings and parents to declare their assets.

It also directed the bureau to provide a record of the perks and salaries given to NAB officers and sought an audit of the distribution of funds among victims of corruption.

During the meeting, the PAC chairman came down hard on the anti-graft watchdog. He called on NAB officials to send the questionnaire sent to suspects to their own family members.

The bureau's Karachi chief responded that in order to do this, all officers would have to be declared suspects, prompting a heated exchange between the two.

The PAC chairman said the purpose of government institutions was to curb corruption, not to seek political revenge.

The members of the PAC were of the opinion that the recoveries made by the bureau should be deposited in the national treasury.

PAC member Senator Saleem Mandiwala said that NAB claimed to have recovered Rs820 billion so far. But data from the finance ministry showed that only Rs15bn had been deposited in the national treasury, he said.

The acting chairman responded that the bureau had only one account where the recoveries were deposited, adding that the auditor general could conduct an audit at any time.

At one point, Senator Shibli Faraz questioned whether the bureau could work independently after parliament approved the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Bill. 2021.

Shah was of the view that the accountability watchdog was bound to abide by the law and did not have the authority to question the legislative process.

The committee also summoned the records of the Eden Housing Scheme from the bureau's acting chairman. The committee again summoned NAB officials at the next meeting on July 7 with a record of the execution of its directives.

During the meeting, Khan also asked the NAB officials about the corruption case against him. "Tell me if it is still being deliberated. I will step down from chairing today's meeting," he said.

"I am not sure but I think the inquiry against you has not yet concluded," Shah replied. He assured the PAC chairman that he would receive a letter of apology if the inquiry proved him to be innocent.

However, Faraz pointed out that Khan should have not chaired today's session if the inquiry against him was still pending. However, the PAC chairman dismissed his concerns, saying that the bureau only served to humiliate suspects.

Opinion

Editorial

Anything goes
Updated 13 Jan, 2025

Anything goes

With social media companies abandoning moderation efforts, dark days of freewheeling internet have seemingly returned.
Odious trade
13 Jan, 2025

Odious trade

WHEN home feels like a sinking ship, people are forced to make ill-fated journeys for a better life. Last month,...
Treasure of the Indus
13 Jan, 2025

Treasure of the Indus

THE Indus dolphin, or bulhan as it is known locally, is a remarkable species found only in the Indus River. Unlike...
Increased inflows
Updated 12 Jan, 2025

Increased inflows

Govt must devise a strategy to increase industrial and agricultural productivity to boost exports and reduce reliance on uncertain remittances.
Gwadar’s potential
12 Jan, 2025

Gwadar’s potential

THE Gwadar deep-sea port, completed in 2007, was supposed to be a shining success for the other newly built ports in...
Broken metropolis
12 Jan, 2025

Broken metropolis

KARACHI, Pakistan’s economic juggernaut, is the largest contributor to the nation’s tax revenue. The Federal...