ISLAMABAD - NAB Chairman Admiral (r) Fasih Bokhari has said the bureau will carry out transparent investigations into Arsalan Iftikhar case, without accepting any pressure from any quarter.

Addressing a news conference here‚ Fasih said the NAB (National Accountability Bureau) has constituted a JIT (joint investigation team) to probe this case under the direction of the Supreme Court. The team headed by DIG Financial Crimes comprises members from FIA‚ Police and NAB. This team can hire services of legal, financial and forensic experts if and when needed, he added.
He clarified that the bureau doesn’t have any specific agenda but was complying with the orders of the honourable court. The JIT will determine whether it was a case of collusion between two private individuals or the case of extortion by any of the accused, he said. The team will look into all the relevant transactions, money trail, investments, commercial dealings, business profiles, relevant meetings and, if required, details of communications between those associated, in any manner, with the case, he added.
The NAB chairman told the participants about a letter written by the counsel of Mr Arslan Iftikhar, saying it was apparently an effort to influence the investigations. The notice bears threatening language attempting to hamper proceedings that constitute offence under the law and this aspect will also be looked into, he said. As JIT is in the process of constitution to comply with of the SC orders, this notice tantamount to the contempt of court as well, he added.
To a question, Fasih Bokhari said that JIT will largely depend on documentary evidence therefore question of favour or disfavour to anyone doesn’t arise. He requested the media not to prejudge and let the inquiry complete, the proceeds of which would be shared with the print and electronic media.
Right now prejudging the facts will jeopardise the inquiry, the NAB chief said. He explained that during the course of this inquiry if NAB receives any further information which necessitates further action with regard to a separate inquiry involving an offence under the NAO, proceedings will be initiated accordingly.
To another question, NAB chairman said that corruption is causing Rs6 billion to Rs8 billion per day loss to the national treasury. “Till now, NAB has recovered Rs235 billion for the treasury but this is not enough,” Bokhari said, adding that government has given approval for recruiting 300 new investigators. He said investigation on a number of other cases was underway, including one of corruption in Ogra (Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority).
Bokhari said that whereas the Sharif brothers’ case could yield just Rs3 billion and the Swiss letter case, Rs6 billion, the Ogra corruption case alone could bring Rs55 billion to the treasury. He told the media that a warrant will be issued for former Ogra chairman Tauqeer Sadiq’s arrest.
The NAB chief said that the cases were being reviewed against the Sharif brothers as well, but he assured that politically motivated cases will not be opened against anyone as “NAB will not be used” as a political vessel.
Referring to the rental power projects case, Bokhari enquired whether the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had placed Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL).