Govt withdraws NAB (Amendment) Ordinance

LAHORE: Attorney General Maulvi Anwaar ul Haq told the Supreme Court that concerned authorities have decided to withdraw the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Amendment Ordinance 2010.

The statement was made during the hearing of applications against the Ordinance.

He pleaded before the court that all applications against the ordinance have become ineffective by its withdrawal.

Applicant Zafar Ali Shah argued that only a valid ordinance can be withdrawn. Another applicant, Shahid Orakzai said clause 47 of the constitution had been violated in the issuance of the ordinance.

The Supreme Court  directed the attorney general to reply to the violation of the constitutional clause.

The hearing had been adjourned until December 7.

The circulation of the ordinance by President Asif Ali Zardari that involved the transfer of power from the NAB chief to Law Minister Babar Awan was under scrutiny, as lawmakers questioned its discretion. Senator Zafar Ali Shah termed the ordinance “illegal and unconstitutional” and said that as the Prime Minister was not even aware of the amendment, it must be challenged.