Govt, opposition seek to iron out differences on NAB law

The Parliamentary Committee on Legislative Business will meet again on Tuesday [today] to reach a consensus on proposed amendments to the law that governs the country’s top graft buster, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The parliamentary panel on Monday discussed the governmental proposals to tweak the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999. The opposition members while raising objections to some proposals presented their own set of proposed amendments.

According to sources, the opposition presented a number of proposals particularly with regard to grant of bail in NAB cases and the time-period of remanding accused in NAB custody.

At present only a high court can grant bail in a NAB case while an accused is remanded in NAB custody for a period of 90 days. The opposition has proposed that an accountability court should also be allowed to grant bail to an accused while the remand period should also be reduced.

The opposition also wants to change the provision that allows NAB to arrest an accused even during an inquiry or investigation. It also wants to take back the NAB chairman’s power to issue arrest warrants.

The governmental members told the opposition members that these proposals will be presented to Prime Minister Imran Khan in the cabinet meeting today [Tuesday]. The opposition will be communicated the PM’s response in the committee meeting that will be held in the evening.

The committee on Monday also deliberated on the proposed legislation being introduced to implement the 27-point action plan of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) – an inter-governmental organization that develops policy against money laundering and terror financing.

Talking to media after the meeting, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi – who also chaired the committee meeting – said the government has presented its stance and is open to the proposals to be presented by the opposition.

He said the governments come into power for a limited time but the legislative process continues. Another member of the committee, Adviser to the PM on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan said no institution is being disbanded but the government is ready to bring reforms in state institutions.

NAB has lately come under fire especially in the wake of the Supreme Court’s July 20 verdict that explained reasons for granting bail to a couple of PML-N's senior leaders in a NAB case.

The 83-page order had raised serious questions about the conduct of NAB, stating that the accountability laws are “successfully employed “in the country as tools to change political loyalties and for splintering and fracturing political parties.

"Pygmies were selected, nurtured, promoted, and brought to prominence and power. People with notorious backgrounds and criminal credentials were thrust to rule us in various capacities with predictable results,” it said.

According to the verdict, "NAB's conduct throughout this case [against the PML-N leaders] is a clear manifestation of their utter disregard for law, fair play, equity and propriety". After, this verdict, major opposition parties called for disbanding the accountability watchdog.