NAB working independently, says law minister

Farogh Naseem calls for improving accountability laws to achieve better results

ISLAMABAD: In order to achieve better results from national institutions, the incumbent government was working on bringing improvement in national accountability bureau laws, Law Minister Farogh Naseem has said.

In an interview with a private news channel on Friday, the minister said that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was working independently and without any pressure from the government.

The NAB had discharged its duties efficiently and diligently, he said, adding that improvement in the institution could speed up the process of accountability against the corrupt elements. In reply to a question about flaws in NAB laws, he made it clear that the institution was working without discrimination.

Commenting on fear of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) about changes in the 18th Amendment, he said the government could not understand about the PPP leaders’ stance. At the moment, he added, the government was only thinking about the coronavirus challenge and completely focusing on it.

He said the founder of the PPP, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had mentioned in a statements about Constitution that amendment could be brought as per requirement of the state. He added that changes in the NAB laws or the 18th Amendment could be made in consultation with political parties.

About relaxation in the lockdown period, he said if the government continued the lockdown the country could face economic turmoil in the near future. The minister said that people should realise the gravity of coronavirus impact on human lives. He urged masses to cooperate with the government and follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to protect themselves and their children from the virus.