New accountability bill will not allow reopening of cases older than 10 years

Express News obtains copy of bill which states that no one, including president or PM, will have immunity in any case.

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Commission Bill, which is due to be presented in the National Assembly today (Monday), states that cases older than 10 years will not be reopened, according to a copy made available to Express News.

The bill adds that no one will have immunity in any case, be it the president, prime minister, governor, speaker, auditor general, attorney general or retired officers of the armed forces.

According to Express News, Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) is likely to vote against the bill as their suggestions were not included in the final draft.

The government had earlier claimed that the bill will be passed in the assembly only when all the stakeholders have agreed to its clauses.

The approval of the bill will result in the formation of a new National Accountability Commission which will repeal the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 in favour of a new accountability law.

The chairman of the commission will either be a retired judge of the Supreme Court or a Grade-22 officer. Similarly, the deputy chairman will be a retired judge of the high courts or a Grade-21 officer. The chairman will be appointed by the president for three years after holding talks with the prime minister and the opposition parties.

In case the prime minister and opposition parties fail to reach a consensus, then two names will be sent to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice for the post of the chairman.

The bill has been languishing since April 2009 due to differences with the opposition.