ISLAMABAD: On Wednesday, the National Assembly passed a measure that would exempt the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from becoming involved in any corruption cases involving less than Rs500 million. This law intends to severely curtail the NAB’s authority.
The measure also suggests that the authority to nominate judges for accountability courts should remain with the federal government rather than the President.
The federal government must speak with chief justice of the relevant high court before appointing a judge, according to the measure. The bill allows for a three-year extension of the prosecutor general’s employment with the NAB.
The National Accountability (Second Amendment) Act, 2022 was introduced in the lower house by Minister of State for Statute and Justice Shahadat Awan to further reform the law governing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The National Accountability Ordinance 1999 (NAOSection )’s 16 was altered by the bill, and it now states that a defendant will be tried for an offence against the NAO in the court whose territorial jurisdiction the offence is alleged to have occurred.
In the meantime, Section 19E has been amended to remove NAB’s power to authorise monitoring with the aid of a high court, including any cooperation from government organisations.The bill stated, “Any person called to furnish information in regard to an alleged offence will be told about the charges against them in order that they can prepare their defence in court.
