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President approves amendment ordinance as traders freed from NAB

President approves amendment ordinance as traders freed from NAB
December 28, 2019
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – 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. Earlier, the federal cabinet has approved the proposal of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Amendment Ordinance 2019 on Friday. The summary was approved from the members by circulation. The federal government has decided to amend the NAB law immediately. The Ministry of Law sent a summary after consulting with Prime Minister Imran Khan. Ministry of Law and Justice has sent the proposal of NAB Amendment Ordinance 2019 to Prime Minister (PM) Office. It also decided that the NAB law will be amended through the Presidential Ordinance. The special committee – formed by the prime minister – drafted 31 amendments to amend in the NAB law. Through amendment of law, no action directly will be taken against ministers, members of the parliament, bureaucracy and government officials. This amendment will remove authority of the anti-graft watchdog from the tax, stock market and IPOs matters. The proposal stated that the NAB will be able to take action against corruption of over 500 million rupees. No action will be launched against government employees in case of departmental deficiencies, it read. The proposal further added that the assets of government workers cannot be seized unless directed by the court and if NAB inquiry is incomplete after three months, the detained public servant will have right of bail. 92 News already broadcasted this breaking news on December 2 regarding amendment of law in the NAB Act.