Pakistan's anti-graft watchdog is engaged in human rights violations, Senate Deputy Chairperson Saleem Mandviwalla claimed on Wednesday, accusing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for "killing people and dropping off their bodies at hospitals".
Mandviwalla said he spoke to civil liberty bodies about the anti-corruption watchdog's alleged malpractices but they feared highlighting the matter as it would "tarnish Pakistan's image" around the world.
"NAB accuses everyone of being thieves and robbers", he said, asking: "How dare it level such allegations against people?"
"Women call and narrate what the NAB has done to them and their families. This institution is killing people and, when they die, it leaves their bodies in the hospital.
"NAB is violating human rights. I spoke to human rights organisations about it but they are afraid that talking about it will ruin Pakistan's image. Not a day goes by when I do not receive a call about the NAB's [alleged atrocities] and its actions," he said.
The Senate official claimed he had received calls from abroad wherein people told him they left the country due to the anti-graft body's harassment.
"We have made the NAB into a monster," he added, challenging the watchdog's representatives to appear in front of a committee if they had done nothing wrong.
"NAB Chairperson [Justice (r) Javed Iqbal] should have the courage to listen to these families' woes," he added, underlining that he would provide a list of people who have been affected by the anti-corruption body.
