Islamabad: (Staff Reporter IT): The book launch of senior journalist Abdul Sattar Khan’s latest work “Dark Tower of Accountability” was held at the National Press Club (NPC) Islamabad. The ceremony was presided over by senior journalist and former PFUJ Secretary General Nasir Zaidi, while PFUJ President Afzal Butt, renowned journalists and analysts Rauf Klasra, Absar Alam, Rana Jawad, Shakil Anjum, Abdul Qayyum Siddiqui, Sajjad Azhar, Iftikhar Shirazi, Zamir Haider, and Supreme Court Bar President Mian Rauf Atta were among the distinguished participants.
The event was hosted by NPC Secretary Nayyar Ali. Speakers lauded Abdul Sattar Khan’s bold and comprehensive analysis of the role of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), terming it a valuable reference work for the future, as it also compares Pakistan’s accountability framework with investigative agencies from 42 countries.
The speakers highlighted that NAB’s laws have often been used for political engineering, causing severe financial and social damage to the country. They stressed that the book is not a casual read but a serious research endeavor, reflecting the painful reality of accountability in Pakistan.
In his remarks, author Abdul Sattar Khan said that while politicians worldwide play a crucial role in leading nations out of crises, Pakistan has yet to see that moment. He pointed out that accountability in Pakistan has historically been politically motivated—beginning with Nawaz Sharif during Benazir Bhutto’s tenure, followed by Pervez Musharraf’s era, and continuing to the present day.
Referring to high-profile cases, he noted that NAB lacked substantial evidence in matters like the Avenfield apartments and the Panama cases, yet these inquiries resulted in far-reaching political consequences. “Yesterday, PML-N and PPP were the targets—today, it is PTI,” he concluded.
