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Law Ministry issues notification of NAB Amendment Ordinance

Law Ministry issues notification of NAB Amendment Ordinance
December 28, 2019
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Ministry of Law has issued a notification on Saturday after the approval of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Amendment Ordinance 2019. Earlier, the NAB Amendment Ordinance 2019 has been challenged at Karachi Registry of the Supreme Court. A citizen Mehmood Akhtar Naqvi has filed a petition at Karachi Registry of the SC challenging the NAB Amendment Ordinance, 2019, promulgated by the PTI-led government through a presidential ordinance on Friday. The petitioner has made the federal government, the Ministry of Law secretary, the Cabinet Division secretaries, Ministry of Interior, Establishment Division, the NAB chairman, the NAB Director General Headquarters and others as party in the case. The petitioner said, “All citizens are equal in the constitution of Pakistan, the amended ordinance is violation of the constitution and the fundamental rights of citizens.” The application pleaded with the apex court to immediately order suspending the National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019, while claiming that the amendment was against Article 25 of the Constitution, and an attempt to protect the corruption of ministers and government officials. Earlier, President Dr Arif Alvi signed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Amendment Ordinance 2019 as the traders and bureaucracy has been freed from the influence of NAB. According to the details garnered – after the approval of amendment ordinance by the federal cabinet – the president has given go ahead to the circulation summary. It is pertinent to mention here that the NAB will no longer be allowed to take action against government employees and Bureau will not seize property of government officials without the orders of the court. “If the NAB cannot complete an investigation against a suspect within three months, the accused will be entitled to bail. In addition, NAB will now only be able to proceed in corruption cases of Rs500 million and more.” The anti-graft watchdog’s jurisdiction over matters relating to tax, stock exchange and IPOs has been curtailed. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and building control authorities will be the sole authorities tasked to act on all such matters. No action will be launched against government employees in case of departmental deficiencies, as per the proposed ordinance.