Sindh governor shoots down NAB ordinance repeal bill

Law minister says Zubair’s approval has ‘no significance’ as assembly will pass law

KARACHI: Governor Mohammad Zubair refused on Friday to approve the controversial National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 repeal bill presented by the Sindh government. Official sources in the Sindh Assembly told The Express Tribune that in his message, the governor said it is our joint responsibility to eradicate corruption. “The National Accountability Bureau [NAB] plays a significant role and it would be against the [interests] of the people to revoke this law. So, I can't approve this bill to repeal NAB ordinance in Sindh," he said.

The law was passed on July 3 amid opposition parties' protest in the provincial assembly in the wake of inquiries and raids conducted by NAB against Sindh government officers and Pakistan Peoples Party leaders.

At the time of repealing the ordinance, Law Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar said that all proceedings, inquiries and investigations pending under the repealed ordinance would be transferred to the Sindh Anti-Corruption Establishment till new bill was drafted.



"All references and legal proceedings filed or pending before accountability courts will be referred to the anti-corruption court and such courts shall proceed with the references and legal proceedings from the stage at which they were pending, without having to recall any witnesses who were earlier presented before the accountability courts," he said, adding that corruption is a provincial subject so NAB has nothing to do with it.

Commenting on the governor's message, the law minister said the assembly passes the law and it becomes an act when governor gives his assent, but after the 18th Amendment the provincial assemblies are empowered to turn a bill into an act if the governor refuses to approve it. "The governor's refusal has no significance. Once again, we will summon the assembly session, which will decide about governor's message either by rejecting or endorsing it," said Lanjar, adding that if the assembly turns down the governor's message the bill will automatically become an act.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had said NAB was launched to victimise political opponents in the province. "The frequent raids by the accountability bureau affected the performance of government officials who were unwilling to [go to their] offices," CM said.



After the assembly repealed the NAB ordinance, almost all opposition parties had announced their decision to challenge this in court and launch a movement against it. But nothing has been done so far.

After repealing the law, the Sindh government finalised a bill to replace NAB with the Sindh Anti-Corruption Agency. According to the salient features of the draft prepared by law department, a Sindh Assembly committee comprising opposition and treasury members will appoint the chairperson of the agency. The committee will be headed by the Sindh Assembly speaker.

According to officials, the bill will be moved in the assembly soon.