Rifts emerge in PML-N, PPP over new accountability legislation

PML-N wants NAB chairman’s power of freezing accused person’s properties abolished; PPP’s bill has no such suggestion

ISLAMABAD: Rifts between the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have been witnessed in bringing in a new legislation regarding the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999, which governs the country’s top accountability watchdog.

After taking independent decisions to support legislation regarding the reappointment/extension of army chief General Qamar Bajwa, both political parties are unable to develop consensus on the amendments in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law. Their different approaches may delay in bringing in a new legislation.

On the other hand, Law Minister Dr Farogh Naseem while talking to The Express Tribune says that the government is awaiting the opposition’s proposed amendments in the NAO. “The PML-N had to submit its suggestions last week but it has yet to share them with us,” he adds.

The law minister says that the government wants to make a working relationship with the opposition parties; therefore, it is waiting for their proposals. However, he clarified that they don’t want to make NAB “toothless”. Even NAB Chairman Javed Iqbal would also be consulted before bringing in the new legislation.

Naseem also reveals that the apex court’s suggestions about the NAB law amendments are also being considered.

The Supreme Court had proposed that in the changed scenario the legislature may consider amending the NAO, 1999 appropriately in order to enable an accused person to apply for his bail before the relevant accountability court in the first instance.

It had also recommended that the unrealistic timeframe for conclusion of a trial as specified in Section 16(a) of the NAO, 1999 may also be reconsidered and revisited by the legislature.

On January 15, the apex court gave three months to the federal government for an appropriate legislation regarding the NAB chairman’s power of “voluntary return” (VR) option available for obtaining illegal money from the accused.

Naseem believes that the government does not want the VR option to be completely abolished but also it is considering insertion of the dismissal of civil servant after entering the deal.

Likewise, a public office holder should be disqualified for 10 years. He also stated that the government has no plan to extend the NAB jurisdiction to armed forces and superior judiciary.

On the other hand, it is learnt that both major parties are giving proposals separately.

Even the PML-N is not willing to support PPP Senator Farooq Naek’s bill on the same matter unconditionally.

Senator Naek admits that the PML-N contacted him to insert new amendments in the NAB law, but “it is impossible as the bill has already been approved by the Senate standing committee”.

He says that the PPP leadership wants approval of his bill from parliament.

It is learnt that the PML-N is considering to propose abolishing NAB chairman’s power of freezing the accused person’s properties. However, the same recommendation is not available in Naek’s bill.

Meanwhile, PML-N legal mind Barrister Zafarullah told The Express Tribune that the party leaders met on Thursday to consider proposed amendments in the NAB law. He stated that the PML-N bill about NAB law amendments is already pending in the parliament’s committee.

Zafarullah says that the PML-N believes that the NAB chairman’s powers should be structured and a committee within NAB should be established to take all decisions, which are now being taken by the chairman.

Likewise, the party is considering other suggestions like minimising duration of remand; allowing the option of bail, normalising burden of proofs and redefining benami, public office holder, asset beyond means, misuse of authority etc. These matters are being considered within the party before sharing the proposed amendments with the government.