Unified law: Panel calls for averting NAB, FIA power overlap

Asks the bodies to suggest a way out to remove glitches in their jurisdictions

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel has suggested a unified law for accountability and handling of corruption in the government sector to avert the overlapping role of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).



Senate’s Special Oversight Committee on Tuesday asked the FIA and NAB to sit together and suggest a way out to remove glitches in their jurisdictions. The committee decided that it would meet on May 11 before the Senate session to get a final verdict on the issue.



The body had previously asked Ministry of Law and Justice to review the NAB Ordinance 1999 and the FIA Act 1974 to sort out a way out for overlapping jurisdiction. The ministry was given one month to submit reply but both the bodies did not come up with anything concrete. The FIA was of the view that if their power of taking action was taken back then they would be left with nothing as they took action against illegal immigration, drug trafficking and money laundering etc.

The initial report of the ministry said, “The FIA admitted NAB’s superior jurisdiction in anti-corruption matters and also acknowledged the overriding provisions contained in the NAB Ordinance, 1999.”



A member of the panel Farooq H Naek said it was evident that currently Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 is included in the FIA Act, 1974 thus conferring jurisdiction upon the FIA over anti-corruption issues. “There should be new and unified anti-corruption law handling with public office bearers to do away with overlapping of powers and mandate of the FIA and NAB,” he said.

Naek further suggested that a special committee including all the stakeholders could sit together to formulate a new uniform law or seek decision from the prime minister in this regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2016.