Parleys on accountability law hit snag

Opposition boycotts talks as govt rejects its proposed amendments; stalemate also impedes FATF legislation

ISLAMABAD:

The government’s talks with the opposition on amending the law governing the country’s top anti-graft body hit a snag on Tuesday also putting off the discussion between the both sides on the eight bills aimed at removing the country from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list.

The opposition parties walked out of a parliamentary committee meeting held to discuss the proposed laws as the government refused to accommodate their changes in the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) amendment bill.

The government maintained that the amendments to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law proposed by the opposition were against the ruling party’s anti-corruption stance and Prime Minister Imran Khan was unwilling to compromise on the process of accountability. It also claimed that the opposition parties were clubbing the amendments to NAB law with the FATF legislation to have their way.

After boycotting the meeting of parliamentary committee, which comprises both members from the government and the opposition, PML-N Senior Vice President Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told reporters that the NAO amendment bill would not be accepted in its present form.

Speaking alongside PPP’s Sherry Rehman, the former prime minister said the government had brought the same NAB ordinance to the meeting that had been promulgated earlier.

He explained that the government and the opposition had decided on Monday that each section of the NAO bill would be discussed and finalised.

However, he added, the government had now informed the opposition that its proposed amendments had been rejected.

“We asked them [the government side] about which amendments they were objecting to but they did not respond,” he added. “If they can't speak on the amendments in good faith, then it’s not possible to move forward.”

Federal Law Minister Farogh Naseem told the media that the opposition’s proposed amendments were unacceptable as they were against the spirit of the government’s anti-corruption drive.

He said the government had to introduce bills linked to the FATF action plan in parliament before August 6. “If this doesn’t happen, Pakistan won’t be able to get off the FATF’ grey list,” he added. The minister accused the opposition of putting the issue of the FATF legislation on the back burner.

Adviser to the PM on Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar told reporters that accepting the opposition’s 35 proposed amendments meant shutting down NAB. “There can’t be talks on such amendments,” he added.

“The opposition will not get what it wants in exchange for FATF legislation.”
The adviser said the prime minister had made it clear that there would be no compromise over the process of accountability.

He urged the opposition to move forward on issues of national interest and not “blackmail” the government.

PTI MNA Amir Dogar said the government was trying to bring back the opposition to the negotiating table through backdoor channels.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the government had rejected the opposition’s 35 proposed amendments to the NAO as they would render the process of accountability meaningless.

Speaking in the National Assembly, the minister said the opposition has proposed in the amendments in exchange for supporting the government in passing the legislation required to meet the FATF’s conditions.

He urged the opposition to delink the two issues for the sake of national interest.

Qureshi said the country needed to enact four bills related to the FATF immediately. He explained that a report about the passing of bills will be sent to the FATF plenary. The financial watchdog will review the report in its October meeting and decide whether to remove Pakistan from its grey list or not.

The minister also maintained that the opposition’s proposed changes in the NAB law would make it difficult for the country in achieving the FATF’s goals.

“[Curbing] money laundering and terror financing are important components of the FATF action plan,” he added.“The opposition has proposed sending a case to NAB only if it involves one Rs1 billion. What will happen if someone is involved in corruption amounting to 999 million?”

Taking to Twitter, Federal Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry raised the question of MNAs facing corruption cases participating in the debate between the government and the opposition on the amendments to the NAO.

He added that these members should leave the parliamentary committee to uphold the integrity of parliament.