Islamabad (Staff Report/Agencies): Former president Asif Zali Zardari has said that National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal doesn’t have the right to give an interview.
“He [Chairman NAB] does not have the right to give an interview. His post does not allow him to do this. We will take action against it,” said PPP co-chairman while taking to the media outside an accountability court on Tuesday.
Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur appeared before an accountability court in Islamabad.
Judge Arshad Malik heard the fake accounts case and adjourned it till May 30.
On Sunday, Justice (r) Javed Iqbal has vowed to quit his office if even a single allegation of ‘political engineering’ against the anti-graft body is proven.
Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Javed Iqbal said the bureau will take steps that are in the interest of the country and that NAB has never under been under any influence. He said the current economic crisis is not a government crisis, but a national crisis. “NAB is not responsible for the economic crisis,” he said and added, “For the past few days, it is being said that NAB has been behind the economic crisis in the country."
"What has NAB to do with dollar’s increasing value,” he asked.
Regarding the grievances of the business community, Justice (r) Javed Iqbal said that businessmen would not be summoned to the bureau and instead a questionnaire would be dispatched.
“The grievances of the business community would be addressed by DG headquarter himself,” vowed the NAB chief and added that if any businessman is having any complaint, he should personally inform him or visit the bureau.
He expressed that he was ready to meet any businessman for listening to his complaints, even if he had to walk up to the individual. Justice (r) Javed Iqbal said that businessmen would not be questioned for TT type of money transfer.
Justice (r) Javed Iqbal urged the government not to appoint individuals facing investigations to government positions.
He also expressed displeasure over the attitude of public representatives saying that whenever a lawmaker is summoned, assembly sessions are convened and NAB has to present the legislator.
‘We respect public representatives,’ he affirmed.
The NAB chief informed the newsmen that the bureau had requested the government to place name of few suspects on the Exit Control List, however, such action was not taken and the accused fled the country.