ISLAMABAD:
Making cosmetic changes in the original draft of the new accountability bill tabled in the National Assembly on Monday, a standing committee on Wednesday approved 10 clauses of the National Accountability Act, 2012.
The NA panel has, however, rejected nearly all the amendments to the bill proposed by the opposition.
The National Accountability Act, 2010 has been a bone of contention between the PPP and the PML-N since it was first tabled in the house in April 2009, under the title ‘Holder of Public Office (Accountability) Act, 2009’. Its title was changed afterwards.
The NA’s Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs is likely to go through the rest of the clauses in its meeting on Thursday (today) and pass the bill during the session later in the evening.
Under the new law, which places a bar on opening graft cases older than 10 years, a commission will be constituted to supervise the investigation and prosecution of those accused to be involved in corruption.
The PML-N had earlier argued the chairman of this commission should be a retired judge. But in the bill the PPP has tabled, the chairman can be a retired judge or a grade-22 federal government officer.
The prime minister and leader of the opposition will propose the chairman’s name to the NA standing committee which would have to finalise the name within 14 days of the submissions.
If the committee fails to approve a name, the premier will forward two more names, of which the panel will have to choose one.
The committee also proposed that – if need be – the chairman could be removed from his office on health grounds or on account of misconduct. PML-N had been arguing that the procedure for his removal should be the same as that of a Supreme Court judge, but the proposal was rejected.
Zahid Hamid and Anusha Rehman of the PML-N told reporters they have challenged the composition of the NA standing committee, which comprises 19 treasury members and just four members from the opposition.
During a press conference earlier, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan asked ANP and MQM to support PML-N in its endeavours to oppose, what he dubbed, a “toothless bill.”
He added the supporters of this bill would be supporting corruption in the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 11th, 2012.
COMMENTS (2)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Just more drama. If pmln were serious they would have sorted this out with ppp by now.
PML N please keep making your effort, we are with you.