PM Imran Khan addresses ceremony in Islamabad on Monday. SCREEN GRAB
The government has promulgated the National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance 2019 to “insulate” the business community which has frequently complained against the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The opposition, however, alleges that the government has clipped NAB’s powers to shield PTI leaders facing inquiries from accountability.
“The accountability process would continue unabated. We will not relent at any cost. The corrupt will have to face the music,” the prime minister said while speaking at a meeting of the government’s Media Strategy Committee on Monday. “Opposition parties are interested more in personal cases than legislation,” he added.
The prime minister’s statement came a day after his point-man on accountability said the new law would be tabled in parliament where the opposition could identify “flaws, if any”. “This ordinance will eventually go to parliament. If the opposition parties find any flaws in the ordinance, they can present their suggestions in parliament,” Shahzad Akbar told a news conference on Sunday.
Attendees at Monday’s meeting – the prime minister’s top aides Asad Umar, Murad Saeed, Shafqat Mahmood, Babar Awan, Firdous Ashiq Awan and Moeed Yousaf – pored over the opposition’s reaction to the tweaks in the NAB law.
The government’s legal wizards dissected the new law for the participants and concluded that it hasn’t been introduced to favour anyone. They said the Federal Board of Revenue would deal with the tax matters of the business community.
While speaking at the meeting, the prime minister regretted the opposition’s “negative propaganda” against the amendments in the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 as they had long called for purging the law of draconian clauses.
Several opposition politicians are facing NAB inquiries over financial corruption and embezzlement of government funds. “The opposition cannot mislead the people who remember the time when NAB was rendered ineffective,” PM Imran said.
The prime minister said his government had inherited an ailing economy from its predecessors which has been stabilised after a lot of hard work. He added that the year 2020 would herald an era of economic prosperity for the common man.
The meeting decided to ensure effective publicity of the five major public welfare measures of the government. It also decided to prepare a calendar for the cabinet members for 2020 to help the government and people track their performance.
The ministers would be required to inform the public about the launch and completion of a public welfare scheme undertaken by their respective ministries. The meeting resolved that 2020 would be the year of public welfare in Pakistan. The prime minister said his administration has set a target to improve the life of the common man in 2020.
Separately, PM Imran said his vision for Pakistan was that of the State of Madina which was established on the principles of compassion, justice, and the rule of law. “We are trying to revive the vision which was the basis for the creation of Pakistan – and that vision was one of an Islamic welfare state on the model of State of Madina,” he said while speaking at the launch of Sehat Insaf Card for the transgender community.
Sehat Insaf and Ehsaas programmes are part of this vision to help the vulnerable segments of society, he said while appreciating the government team for coming up with the idea to provide health insurance to members of the transgender community.
The prime minister told the audience that in every cabinet meeting, a briefing is sought from every ministry on the steps taken by them for the benefit of the common man. “It is the government's responsibility to bring about a positive change in people’s lives,” he added.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza said poor people in 48 districts were already benefiting from the Sehat Insaf programme. The government pays up to Rs720,000 premium, if a person falls ill and receives treatment at a medical facility. Sehat Insaf Card will also be available to any person in Pakistan living with a disability.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar informed the audience that under Ehsaas programme, a 2% quota for special persons in government jobs and o1% quota in official accommodations has been reserved. The human rights ministry is working on a piece of legislation to provide legal assistance to special persons.
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