‘Govt, opposition in talks for NAB reforms’

Law minister says bill to amend NAB law will be tabled soon

ISLAMABAD : The government and the opposition are holding negotiations on amending the law governing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Law Minister Farogh Naseem said on Thursday that he and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi frequently met opposition members to discuss the matter.

“But the opposition’s response to the government’s recommendations has not been positive so far,” the minister told reporters.

He added that the government was committed to the eradication of corruption and bribery from the country.

“We have decided to present a bill on amendments to the NAB law that will transform the outdated system.”

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Naveed Qamar said his party would support any legislation that benefitted the people.

“We have put forward several recommendations [for NAB reforms],” he added.

“The government should present the bill as we are ready to discuss it. But it should not deviate from the legislation proposed in it.”



Last month, the law minister said the government was not intervening in NAB matters and had not interfered with cases related to the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif or PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

He had also hinted at changes in the law related to plea bargain. “There has never been any debate in the federal cabinet on the 18th Amendment and Prime Minister Imran Khan has never asked to roll it back,” clarified the law minister.

He said any changes in the Constitution were made according to need and time. “There are some matters in the 18th Amendment, which need discussion. But for now, the government does not intend to bring any changes to the amendment,” he added.