-Backs NAB Ordinance approved
-Asad says NAO an attempt to steer NAB in right direction
-Farrukh claims constitutional amendments to strengthen NAB, ensure fast track accountability
-Bilawal terms extension of NAB Chairman’s tenure as illegal
-PML-N calls new NAB Ordinance ‘NRO for govt’
From Abid Usman
LAHORE: Lashing out at PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, the interior minister Thursday cautioned Opposition leaders from uttering “irresponsible statements” against state institutions.”
Individuals represent institutions,” said Sheikh Rasheed. “You don’t become a corps commander without performing duties at tough terrains such as mountains and deserts,” he said, speaking of former DG ISI Faiz Hameed.
Reacting to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s earlier statement on reconciling with the PML-N’s opponents for maintaining the rule of law in the country, the interior minister said the “ship has sailed”.
Speaking about the NAB ordinance approved by the prime minister, Rasheed said it was a “legal step taken to remove objections raised by people and the business community.” He said it was a “calculated step” by the government, reiterating that it had been taken to facilitate people.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister Asad Umar on Thursday termed the NAB Amendment Ordinance (NAO) 2021 a step to take the accountability watchdog towards its “actual objective”.
“Amendment in NAB laws are an attempt to steer the bureau to its actual purpose,” said Umar while talking to the media in Islamabad. He added that NAB was formed even though other institutions such as the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) existed, as all the other institutions were subordinates to the government. “There was a need for an institution that could maintain a check and balance on those at the helm of affairs and making decisions,” Umar maintained.The minister recalled that the proceedings in the institutions would go on without any end in sight.
“This is why it was decided to bring NAB back to its purpose; an institution that could keep a watch on the government and the politicians.”
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib Thursday also defended the Ordinance saying the reforms were a true reflection of the government’s strong commitment to strengthening the state institutions under the Parliamentary democracy.
Addressing a news conference here, he said earlier, the law was silent in case of deadlock on the appointment of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman.
Now, the President of Pakistan would initiate dialogue with both the leaders of the House for the appointment and the matter would be referred to the Parliamentary committee in the case of deadlock.
“We have followed the constitution in this matter… if there is an issue regarding the appointment of the Election Commissioner and deadlock emerges, the matter is referred to the Parliamentary committee.
The same will happen in the case of NAB chairman’s appointment.
So, we have strengthened and given respect to the Parliament as the opposition used to demand,” the minister maintained. The minister was flanked by Parliamentary Secretary for Law and Justice Maleeka Bokhari.
“Is the addition of Parliamentary committee in the NAB law really frustrated them,” he questioned while recalling the opposition’s previous demand of closing down the anti-graft watchdog.
The amendments in the NAB law are comprehensive,” he said stressing the main aim was to strengthen the NAB and fast-track the ongoing accountability process in line with the Parliamentary norms.Earlier in the day, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Thursday slammed the PTI government after it granted an extension to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chief through a presidential ordinance.
The reaction comes a day after President Arif Alvi promulgated the National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, under which NAB Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal will continue to serve the post until a new chairman is appointed.
Bilawal Bhutto said that the extension of the Javed Iqbal’s term is “not only illegal but has malicious intent.”The PPP leader wrote on Twitter: “The selected government wants to continue victimisation of Opposition while ensuring the PM, his family, government and cronies continue to be immune from accountability. Especially post #PandoraPapers.”
Bilawal had earlier said that PPP would “forcefully oppose” the “illegal extension” in the tenure of the NAB chief.
Meanwhile, terming the presidential ordinance that allows extending the term of the incumbent NAB Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal an “NRO for the government”, former prime minister and PML-N senior leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday said the motive behind the move was to conceal the alleged corruption of the rulers.
Addressing a press conference, Abbasi accused the chairman of the anti-graft watchdog of serving the prime minister’s interests. “No official notification has been issued so far for the ordinance,” he said, adding that he had only seen the president tweet about it.
Criticising the federal government, the PML-N leader said NAB takes no action against the elements involved in sugar, wheat and medicine scams, adding that it also does not ask questions from tax invaders.
The anti-graft watchdog was unable to ask question Pakistanis named in the Pandora Papers, he added.
“The NAB chairman must pack up and leave if the prime minister does not hold consultations with the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly over the matter,” Abbasi said
