ISLAMABAD: The Chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Aftab Sultan has resigned from hos post.
According to multiple media reports, Aftab Sultan had tendered his resignations a few days back to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif which had been accepted accordingly.
The Shehbaz Sharif led government had appointed former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Aftab Sultan as the new chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on July 21 last year, replacing Retired Justice Javed Iqbal who had hit headlines for remaining surrounded by multiple controversies.
Although the cause behind his resignation has been stated as ‘personal reasons’, but media reports suggest Aftab Sultan was under pressure after being asked something he wasn’t willing to do, and that he had serious reservations about the accountability body being turned as a toothless apparatus due to recently introduced amendments in NAB laws.
Prominent journalist Mubashir Zaidi claimed that the prime cause of resignation of Aftab Iqbal was his refusal to make and file case against Chairman PTI Imran Khan.
نیب کے سربراہ کے مستعفی ہونے کی بڑی وجہ عمران خان کے خلاف کیس بنانے سے انکار تھا
— Mubashir Zaidi (@Xadeejournalist) February 21, 2023
Aftab Sultan himself quoted by a few media outlets, saying that it was impossible for him to bow down to “pressure” and frame or quash cases against anyone, adding that he wasn’t feeling comfortable to carry on with his job with certain conditions. He further said that his resignation was accepted by PM at a good note, who also wished him best of luck.
Farewell Address:
Aftab Sultan is reported to have delivered an emotional speech at the farewell address to NAB officers on Tuesday. During the speech, he called for holding fresh elections and accepting the mandate of the new government.
He was quoted by a few reporters as saying “NAB cannot bear the interference of the institutions, neither did I join NAB with something, nor do am I going with anything, one plot owner is told to put behind bars, while those with billions (of corruption) were shown way out, the officers should work hard, just stick with the law.”
Aftab Sultan was quoted as saying that he performed his duty as per law and constitution, adding that 99% of the NAB employees were honest, and the only problem arising out was from 1%, urging NAB officers not to bow down to pressure of a 1% of the accountability institution.
Reactions:
Reacting on Aftab Sultan’s resignation, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry termed it a major development towards the disintegration of, what he called, ‘fascist system’. He said Aftab Sultan resigned due to intervention in his job, urging 22 officials posted recently in Punjab to step aside as it would benefit both the country and the bureaucracy.
چیئرمین احتساب بیورو کااستعفیٰ فاشسٹ نظام کے ٹوٹنے کی طرف بڑا قدم ہے،آفتاب سلطان نے ان کے کام میں“مداخلت”کے خلاف استعفیٰ دیا میں ان 22افسران کو جن کو پنجاب میں مداخلت کرنے کیلئے لگایا گیا ہے کہتا ہوں وہ بھی خود کو اس نظام سے علیحدہ کریں یہ ملک اور بیوروکریسی دونوں کے مفاد میں ہے
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) February 21, 2023
Sheikh Rashid said anyone with his conscience alive would follow Aftab Sultan’s footsteps, adding that President should now ask Shehbaz Sharif to get vote of confidence from the National Assembly.
