Former Prime Minister and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has approached the Supreme Court challenging the recent amendme...
Former Prime Minister and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has approached the Supreme Court challenging the recent amendments made by the present coalition government to the National Accountability (NAB) Ordinance, claiming that the government White-collar crime committed by a person holding a public office will be practically eliminated.
Imran Khan and other leaders of his party criticized the government for amending the NAB rules, while the PTI chairman said the move would destroy the country.
On the other hand, the ruling coalition claimed that despite the NAB laws, corruption cases against the PML-N leadership would continue.
Read also: Election Act and NAB Amendment Bills passed unanimously in the Senate
Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had recently said that the amendments were not aimed at eliminating corruption cases registered against government leaders.
Along with the Electoral Reform Bill, the NAB Amendment Bill was also passed by the National Assembly and the Senate last month, after which it needed the President's approval to become law.
However, both the bills were sent back by President Dr. Arif Alvi after which the government convened a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the Senate and approved them. Declared progressive and backward, but according to the procedure, 10 days after the bill is passed by the joint session, it is considered law, even if the president refuses to approve it.
Read more: Journalists' Protection Bill, NAB Amendment Ordinance also passed by Senate, Opposition protests
In a petition filed by PTI today, the former prime minister has named NAB as the respondent in the case through the Secretary Law and Justice Division, Federation of Pakistan and Chairman NAB.
A petition under Article 184/3 has been prepared against the NAB amendments filed by Khawaja Harris. The federation and NAB have been made parties in the petition.
The petition contends that the amendments to sections 2, 4, 5, 6, 25, 26, 14, 15, 21 and 23 of the NAB Act are also unconstitutional.
The petition said that these amendments in the NAB Act are contrary to the fundamental rights of Articles 9, 14, 19A, 24, 25 of the Constitution.
Read also: President sends NAB and Election Amendment Bill back without signature
Petition Chairman PTI has requested the court to annul all these amendments made in the NAB Act.
NAB Edit
The NAB (Second Amendment) Bill, 2021 states that the Deputy Chairman of the NAB, to be appointed by the Federal Government, shall become the Acting Chairman of the Bureau upon completion of his term of office.
The bill also reduced the four-year term of the Chairman NAB and the Bureau's Prosecutor General to three years.
Once the law is passed, the NAB will not be able to handle federal, provincial or local tax matters.
In addition, regulatory agencies operating in the country have also been excluded from the purview of the NAB.
Read more: Joint Session of Parliament, Election Act Amendment Bill and NAB Ordinance Amendment Bill passed
The bill states that under this ordinance, all pending inquiries, investigations, trials or proceedings relating to individuals or transactions will be transferred to the concerned authorities, departments and courts under the relevant laws.
The bill also sets a three-year term for judges of the accountability courts, which will also oblige the courts to decide the case within a year.
Under the proposed law, the NAB is required to ensure the availability of evidence against the accused before arresting him.
According to a major amendment to the bill, the act will be effective from the beginning of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 and beyond.
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