That the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman, Aftab Sultan, has relinquished his position citing personal reasons has as usual set rumor mills churning out theories around the government’s policy and its resolve to eliminate corruption from the country. Though unusual to see an outgoing boss of the anti-graft body expressing concerns about the state of affairs of the country, a composed Aftab Sultan chose to touch upon subjects ranging from across the board accountability to the supremacy of the Constitution and upholding the rule of law to the need of working within the constitutional parameters without fear or favour or being considered less patriotic.
Mr Sultan has echoed the concerns long heard in the country, but never taken up seriously, and this constant disregard has brought the nation to the present sorry impasse. As it is difficult for many to digest the reasons cited by Mr Sultan to resign from his post, it needs a great deal of soul searching for the rulers to uphold the rule of law. If according to the spirit of the 18th amendment in the Constitution, it is intended to make the institution of accountability completely independent, then perhaps it would not be the turn of Aftab Sultan to bow out from the position, but this is our tragedy that the country’s political culture has been nurtured under the concept of suppressing the opposition by adopting every tactic and not allowing any voice to be raised against the arbitrary actions of those in power.
Not only the ruling elites, but the mainstream political parties also seem shying away from granting full constitutional independence to the anti-graft body. We have seen in the past that the NAB has been used as a tool for suppress the voice of the opposition. Even the same seems to be true today that this institution is the most effective weapon of the rulers to suppress the government’s opponents and detractors.
Following the resignation of Aftab Sultan, the NAB, which appeared to have lost the steam, has again started moving against the leaders of the main opposition party, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and has summoned the party’s chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan and former first lady Bushra Bibi in the Toshakhana reference, accusing them of illegally selling gifts received during Imran Khan’s tenure as the country’s chief executive. Similarly, former foreign minister and PTI senior leader Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi has also been summoned by NAB for March 8.
According to media reports, PTI leaders and former federal ministers Pervez Khattak and Fawad Chaudhary have also been summoned in the same case on March 7 and 8, respectively. The fresh actions by NAB give credence to the assertions made by Mr Aftab Sultan that he was being pressured to file references, but he did not accept interference. After resigning, Mr Sultan should reveal the facts in which case he was under pressure and from whom so that there is no ambiguity in his claim. Saner elements in the political parties are also demanding the same from the NAB’s former chairman to satisfy the questions surrounding his resignation.
