ISLAMABAD: The government on Monday introduced another amendment titled ” Third amendment in NAB ordinance 2021″ to make necessary corrections in the amendment made last month. The government had introduced major amendments in NAB law last month to exempt a number of decision-making fora
like federal and provincial cabinets, tax issues, private businesses and ECNEC etc. The purpose of these amendments was to win the trust of the beaurocracy which previously was afraid of NAB action for collective decisions. Likewise, business community was raising the NAB issue with prime minister, Imran Khan, off and on and demanding to exclude private businesses from NAB’s domain. The prime minister got an impression from regular complaints of the beaurocracy and business community that softing of NAB law will end impression of NAB’s coersion and subsequently help the government expedite commercial activities in the country to make its economy vibrant.
The government is yet to see positive impact of amendments introduced in NAB law last month. Meanwhile, the government had second thought on last month’s amendment. The last amendment had transferred powers of removal of NAB chairman to the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the procedure of removal of NAB chief was made identical to the judge of superier judiciary. NAB chairman’s removal from office could be done through judicial council of Pakistan. In the new amendment, this procedure has been reversed and powers to remove NAB chairman has been transferred again to the president of Pakistan.
The amended ordinance also excluded money laundering cases from the exemption granted in the last amendment. With the new amendment, the court will continue to hear and decide money laundering cases. The new amendment will bring back all high profile cases of PPP and PMLN leadership into NAB’s domain.
