Senate okays amendments to NAB law

The Senate passed the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022 with a majority vote amid strong protest from the opposition on Thursday.

During the session, chaired by Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, Minister of State for Law Malik Shahadat Awan tabled, stressing that the bill should be passed on Thursday as it was in the public interest. However, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) strongly protested against the introduction of the bill.

The opposition members tore up the copies of the bill and staged a walkout from the house. PTI Senator Shibli Faraz said that legislation was being enacted to end this process of accountability. He added that the bill aimed at giving pardon from corruption to those who were sitting in the cabinet.

In the meanwhile, treasury Senator Sadia Abbasi engaged in altercation with Senator Mushtaq Ahmed. Senator Mushtaq Ahmed said that the government had brought the NAB bill to give amnesty to “the past and future” thieves. Senator Abbasi asked Senator Mushtaq whom he was calling a thief.

Later, the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022 was passed with majority vote. The bill prevented the investigation officer from harassing any person at the time of investigation or inquiry. The National Assembly has already passed the Bill.

The house also passed another bill to further amend the Public Private Partnership Authority Act-2017 moved by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal. Later, the chair adjourned further proceedings until on Friday morning.

Earlier, the house passed a unanimous resolution to pay tributes to martyred Lt-Gen Sarfraz Ali, Commander 12 Corps, Maj-Gen Amjad Haneef, Brig Mohammad Khalid, Maj Saeed Ahmad, Maj Talha Manan and Naik Fayyaz, who lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Balochistan on August 1.

The resolution was moved by Senator Sarfarz Bugti. Honouring the services and sacrifices of these martyrs for national cause, the house expressed deep sympathies and condolences with the bereaved families of the Shuhada.

The Senate appreciated the relief operations of Pakistan’s armed forces in the flood-affected areas of the country, especially Balochistan. The house also acknowledged the sacrifices being rendered by the armed forces for the security and defence of Pakistan in natural calamities.

Talking on point of order, Senator Bugti said that a number of people were still stranded in Balochistan due to flash floods. He stressed the need for immediately expediting the ongoing relief operations in the province. He pointed out that there was also a deficiency of tents, foods, and medicines.

He said that rehabilitation process would be more challenging and lengthy. “We should play our role in the rehabilitation of the flood affected people,” he added. Bugti proposed that special house committee should be constituted to visit the flood-hit areas of Balochistan.