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How satisfied are you with the performance of NAB in Pakistan?

How satisfied are you with the performance of NAB in Pakistan?

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MenInG

MenInG

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Maryam Nawaz called it the Noon Accountability Bureau today - implying that the NAB does nothing but chase a certain party but is that how you feel?
 
They have not been up to the mark. But still some progress is being made. Justice has to be equal for all.
 
As the JIT REPORT showed their has been looting on a unprecedented scale and nothing happened. Where was NAB when The Sharif's and AZ were stealing with both hands?
 
Like other institutions in the country, NAB is very selective in its accountability.
 
NAB is useless as all the leg work and investigation is done by the JITs. NAB doesnt adds any value to whatever JITs uncover. Its better to let those heading JITs be part of NAB for it to be effective.
 
MenInG said:
Maryam Nawaz called it the Noon Accountability Bureau today - implying that the NAB does nothing but chase a certain party but is that how you feel?
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She isnt wrong though in this regard, however, Maryam and her family and her party did corruption due to which they NAB is targeting them even though its selective.
 
It's doing an excellent job, already took out one mafia and if it manages to take down Zardari as well then NAB would have essentially served its purpose.

Also needs to look into journalists, judges and generals.
 
They're doing a satisfactory job until now but much more will be expected from them in the near future.
 
I would say that NAB has done an excellent job to put the Sharifs out of action - hopefully for good.
 
Mamoon said:
Like other institutions in the country, NAB is very selective in its accountability.
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Selective accountability also means some accountability.

In previous governments there was no accountability.

Some accountability is better than no accountability.
 
So NAB has appointed PTI's Naeem Bokhari to assist them in their case against Shehbaz.
[MENTION=1269]Bewal Express[/MENTION]

This is your "impartial and independent" NAB.

It is a point of no return - NAB can no longer claim that it is an independent institution. This decision must be challenged in the SC.
 
Mamoon said:
So NAB has appointed PTI's Naeem Bokhari to assist them in their case against Shehbaz.
[MENTION=1269]Bewal Express[/MENTION]

This is your "impartial and independent" NAB.

It is a point of no return - NAB can no longer claim that it is an independent institution. This decision must be challenged in the SC.
Click to expand...

Great news, long overdue. I wish we had professional prosecutors that actually can't be bribed. Finally we won't have the bizzare situation where prosecutors "forget" their files. I can see why you are so worried, I hope the Corrupt ******* with most of his family on the run is hanged.
 
Mamoon said:
So NAB has appointed PTI's Naeem Bokhari to assist them in their case against Shehbaz.
@<a href="http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/member.php?u=1269" target="_blank">Bewal Express</a>

This is your "impartial and independent" NAB.

It is a point of no return - NAB can no longer claim that it is an independent institution. This decision must be challenged in the SC.
Click to expand...

Is this why you are worried?watch the video from 30min + and the deeply Corrupt family and their tentacles. I hope they are hanged for their theft and btw why are so many of the family on the run?
 
Mamoon said:
So NAB has appointed PTI's Naeem Bokhari to assist them in their case against Shehbaz.
[MENTION=1269]Bewal Express[/MENTION]

This is your "impartial and independent" NAB.

It is a point of no return - NAB can no longer claim that it is an independent institution. This decision must be challenged in the SC.
Click to expand...
The PTI have been far too timid in the face of the onslaught of the mafia and finally we see some action. Make the crooks pay. This is great news, thanks for sharing, really appreciate it.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1949255/1-nab-hires-naeem-bukhari-oversee-cases-shehbaz-others/?amp=1
 
NAB 'kills people and drops their bodies at hospitals', Senate's Mandviwalla claims

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's anti-graft watchdog is engaged in human rights violations, Senate Deputy Chairperson Saleem Mandviwalla claimed on Wednesday, accusing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for "killing people and dropping off their bodies at hospitals".

Mandviwalla said he had spoken to civil liberty bodies about the anti-corruption watchdog's alleged malpractices but they feared highlighting the matter as it would "tarnish Pakistan's image" around the world.

"NAB accuses everyone of being thieves and robbers", he said, asking: "How dare it level such allegations against people?

"Women call and narrate what the NAB has done to them and their families. This institution is killing people and, when they die, it leaves their bodies in the hospital.

NAB 'a monster'
"NAB is violating human rights. I spoke to human rights organisations about it but they are afraid that talking about it will ruin Pakistan's image. Not a day goes by when I do not receive a call about the NAB's [alleged] atrocities and its actions," he said.

The Senate official claimed he had received calls from abroad wherein people told him they left the country due to the anti-graft body's harassment.

"We have made the NAB into a monster," he added, challenging the watchdog's representatives to appear in front of a committee if they had done nothing wrong.

"NAB Chairperson [Justice (r) Javed Iqbal] should have the courage to listen to these families' woes," he added, underlining that he would provide a list of people who have been affected by the anti-corruption body.

'Fear and harassment'
Later, while speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Mandviwalla said he would write to the Senate chairperson again if need be and "if I have to submit another requisition for a meeting, I will do so".

"I've been getting notices [from the NAB] for the past year and a half and I've been writing letters to the NAB chairperson since the past year and a half.

"There's a limit to everything. Everyone comes and whispers to me that they'd tell me what they went through [at the hands of the NAB]. What is this? What is such fear and harassment for? There's no issue of arrest right now."

The Senate's deputy chair underscored that NAB Chairperson Justice (r) Javed Iqbal would "come to us himself and he will not violate the Constitution" since the latter was a former judge.

"There's no need for rumours you've spread about arrests and I believe he will follow whatever's required in the Parliament," he added.

'Stop meddling in the Parliament's workings'
Moreover, Mandviwalla strongly criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan's aide on accountability, Barrister Mirza Shahzad Akbar, advising him "not [to] tell the parliamentarians what to do" and "stop meddling" in the Parliament's affairs.

The aide did not have any right to tell him not to pass a privilege motion, he said. "So now Shahzad Akbar will tell the parliamentarians how to run the Parliament? I want to tell him that a privilege motion is a right of each parliamentarian, not just mine.

"They can raise and file a privilege motion at any time, at any place, and you're no one to tell parliamentarians not to call meetings or raise privilege motions. Focus on your own work and stop meddling in the Parliament's workings," he added.

The Senate's deputy chair underlined that the parliamentarians being mentioned had worked with him in the Opposition and were in agreement with him on the issue he had raised. "They may probably not speak in the press about it but they're all standing strong with me and you see what happens the day the [Parliament] session is called," he stressed.

The businessperson-turned-politician further noted how people had shown some reservations and that he was waiting for someone to come to him and speak about it.

'This does not end here'
In response to a reporter's question as to whether he took time before contacting the chambers of commerce across Pakistan, he said there was no fixed time for such matters and that it was "a continuing process".

"Now that this [matter] has been taken up, all businesspersons and chairpersons are on board. You've seen how none of the chambers have said whatever is happening is not right," he explained.

Mandviwalla dared journalists to mention a single businessperson or chamber official who would say what he was doing was not okay. "These are ignorant questions, now that this has commenced, God willing, there will be a result," he said.

Responding to another question, he said the Senate was the appropriate platform for him to raise such issues. "Do you want me to go on the roads and talk about it? Or do you want me to approach the press?

"I'm a parliamentarian, I'm in the Senate, so obviously I'll speak about it in the Senate. Who are they to tell me not to do what I'm doing in the Senate. I take offence to this," he underlined.

"This does not end here. If they think this has concluded, they are wrong. It's not ended."

https://www.geo.tv/latest/325916-na...-people-drops-bodies-at-hospitals-mandviwalla
 
The Viper said:
NAB 'kills people and drops their bodies at hospitals', Senate's Mandviwalla claims

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's anti-graft watchdog is engaged in human rights violations, Senate Deputy Chairperson Saleem Mandviwalla claimed on Wednesday, accusing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for "killing people and dropping off their bodies at hospitals".

Mandviwalla said he had spoken to civil liberty bodies about the anti-corruption watchdog's alleged malpractices but they feared highlighting the matter as it would "tarnish Pakistan's image" around the world.

"NAB accuses everyone of being thieves and robbers", he said, asking: "How dare it level such allegations against people?

"Women call and narrate what the NAB has done to them and their families. This institution is killing people and, when they die, it leaves their bodies in the hospital.

NAB 'a monster'
"NAB is violating human rights. I spoke to human rights organisations about it but they are afraid that talking about it will ruin Pakistan's image. Not a day goes by when I do not receive a call about the NAB's [alleged] atrocities and its actions," he said.

The Senate official claimed he had received calls from abroad wherein people told him they left the country due to the anti-graft body's harassment.

"We have made the NAB into a monster," he added, challenging the watchdog's representatives to appear in front of a committee if they had done nothing wrong.

"NAB Chairperson [Justice (r) Javed Iqbal] should have the courage to listen to these families' woes," he added, underlining that he would provide a list of people who have been affected by the anti-corruption body.

'Fear and harassment'
Later, while speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Mandviwalla said he would write to the Senate chairperson again if need be and "if I have to submit another requisition for a meeting, I will do so".

"I've been getting notices [from the NAB] for the past year and a half and I've been writing letters to the NAB chairperson since the past year and a half.

"There's a limit to everything. Everyone comes and whispers to me that they'd tell me what they went through [at the hands of the NAB]. What is this? What is such fear and harassment for? There's no issue of arrest right now."

The Senate's deputy chair underscored that NAB Chairperson Justice (r) Javed Iqbal would "come to us himself and he will not violate the Constitution" since the latter was a former judge.

"There's no need for rumours you've spread about arrests and I believe he will follow whatever's required in the Parliament," he added.

'Stop meddling in the Parliament's workings'
Moreover, Mandviwalla strongly criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan's aide on accountability, Barrister Mirza Shahzad Akbar, advising him "not [to] tell the parliamentarians what to do" and "stop meddling" in the Parliament's affairs.

The aide did not have any right to tell him not to pass a privilege motion, he said. "So now Shahzad Akbar will tell the parliamentarians how to run the Parliament? I want to tell him that a privilege motion is a right of each parliamentarian, not just mine.

"They can raise and file a privilege motion at any time, at any place, and you're no one to tell parliamentarians not to call meetings or raise privilege motions. Focus on your own work and stop meddling in the Parliament's workings," he added.

The Senate's deputy chair underlined that the parliamentarians being mentioned had worked with him in the Opposition and were in agreement with him on the issue he had raised. "They may probably not speak in the press about it but they're all standing strong with me and you see what happens the day the [Parliament] session is called," he stressed.

The businessperson-turned-politician further noted how people had shown some reservations and that he was waiting for someone to come to him and speak about it.

'This does not end here'
In response to a reporter's question as to whether he took time before contacting the chambers of commerce across Pakistan, he said there was no fixed time for such matters and that it was "a continuing process".

"Now that this [matter] has been taken up, all businesspersons and chairpersons are on board. You've seen how none of the chambers have said whatever is happening is not right," he explained.

Mandviwalla dared journalists to mention a single businessperson or chamber official who would say what he was doing was not okay. "These are ignorant questions, now that this has commenced, God willing, there will be a result," he said.

Responding to another question, he said the Senate was the appropriate platform for him to raise such issues. "Do you want me to go on the roads and talk about it? Or do you want me to approach the press?

"I'm a parliamentarian, I'm in the Senate, so obviously I'll speak about it in the Senate. Who are they to tell me not to do what I'm doing in the Senate. I take offence to this," he underlined.

"This does not end here. If they think this has concluded, they are wrong. It's not ended."

https://www.geo.tv/latest/325916-na...-people-drops-bodies-at-hospitals-mandviwalla
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This guy is scared, how much has he stolen
 
<a href="https://ibb.co/PQGVvwK"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/JQjSw5V/782da754-d97a-44af-80fe-91107fa5bf5d.jpg" alt="782da754-d97a-44af-80fe-91107fa5bf5d" border="0"></a>
 
https://www.dawn.com/news/1617933/pti-senator-11-others-to-be-indicted-in-nab-reference

Newly-elected PTI senator Abdul Qadir and 11 other accused will be indictedin the Rs46 million corruption reference.

The accountability court of Islamabad has fixed May 18 for framing charges against them.

According to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the accused were members of the Financial Bid Opening Committee of the Workers Welfare Fund (WWF) constituted to examine the financial proposal of the bid received in pursuance to the tender notice for procurement of land for establishing a medical college and teaching hospital in Islamabad.

They are accused of causing a loss of Rs466.2 million to the national exchequer through corrupt practices.

During the investigation, it was also established that the chairman of the Financial Bid Committee and Site Selection Committee illegally and with mala fide intentions recommended and got approved procurement of 151 kanals and four marlas from the governing body for establishment of a medical college and teaching hospital in Islamabad at exorbitant rates in gross violation of the notice inviting tender and caused a loss to the national exchequer.

According to NAB, the accused willfully and knowingly recommended purchase of 150 kanals at a rate of Rs3.7 million per kanal.

As per the reference, the federal government, in collaboration with the provincial government, had initiated a project worth over Rs2 billion titled ‘Water Conservation and Productivity Enhancement through High Efficiency Irrigation System in Pakistan’ for the purpose of increasing agriculture production by using available irrigation water efficiently during 2007-2012.

“During the course of inquiry, it came to surface that 182 such schemes worth Rs320m were approved. These included 158 schemes initiated in 15 districts of Khyber Pakhtun*khwa,” NAB stated.

It noted that most of the schemes were undertaken in Bannu and Lakki Marwat districts and only five were found functional, it said.

“The accused, in connivance with each other, released payments for bogus and incomplete schemes,” the bureau alleged.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NAB in last 3 yrs tenure of PTI (2018 - 2020) recovered Rs.484 bn, in contrast to only Rs 290 bn recovered during 1999 - 2017. When govt does not protect the criminals & lets investigation agencies & accountability work without interference, it shows in the results being achieved</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1396785825581502468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
MenInG said:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NAB in last 3 yrs tenure of PTI (2018 - 2020) recovered Rs.484 bn, in contrast to only Rs 290 bn recovered during 1999 - 2017. When govt does not protect the criminals & lets investigation agencies & accountability work without interference, it shows in the results being achieved</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1396785825581502468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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NAB is corrupt and needs to be scrapped. This figure should be 10* higher. If they catch someone they just ask them to pay it back. No one goes to jail and in Sindh Billo and family even gave the jobs back to those that pleaded guilty. Not a single big fish prosecuted and convicted by NAB, all drama to keep the crooks out of jail. NAB and LHC stand in the way of real accountability
 
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2320853/govt-yet-to-decide-nab-chiefs-tenure

The federal government has yet to decide the matter of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, whose tenure is coming to an end next month.

A senior government official told The Express Tribune that deliberations were under way as to whether the incumbent one should continue or a new chairman should be appointed.

“The government is seriously considering extending the tenure of the incumbent chairman until the appointment of his successor as the post should not be vacated for a single day,” he added.

“However, legislation will be required to implement this suggestion.”

He further said Prime Minister Imran Khan would hold a meeting on the matter soon.

In February this year, the government had promulgated an ordinance to extend NAB Prosecutor General Syed Asghar Haider’s term by another three years.

The appointment of NAB chairman is made by the prime minister in consultation with the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.

The consultation on the appointment of the NAB chairman will not be an easy task in the prevailing political situation in the country wherein the ruling PTI is only relying on its narrative of accountability. It wants to contest the next general elections on the same basis.

One section of the government is in favour of giving an extension to the NAB chairman as he sent several critics of the incumbent regime behind bars.

However, another section is opposing extending the incumbent chairman’s tenure over several reasons.

First, there is a serious issue of credibility in the process of accountability.

Former chief justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa had said the perception of “lopsided accountability” in the country must end.

Therefore, questions are being raised about the PTI government using NAB to give a tough time to opposition leaders on PM Imran’s desire.

The same section also believes that despite the arrest of several opposition leaders, NAB is unable to ensure conviction in high profile cases. They doubt that the NAB top boss will be able to ensure their conviction before the next general elections.

It is also discussed within the government ranks that “powerful circles” have more influence on the NAB chairman than the civilian government.

Therefore, it is not easy to convict PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, his son Hamza Sharif, former president Asif Ali Zardari and others before the next general polls when the security establishment wants reconciliation with opposition parties.

Political analysts also believe that the role of the security establishment will be significant in the appointment or extension of the NAB chairman.

It has been learnt that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto has made it clear that he would not support the move to extend the tenure of the incumbent NAB chairman. The PML-N is already a strong critic of Javed Iqbal.

Several names, including former SC judge Azmat Saeed Sheikh, ex-CJP Nasirul Mulk and incumbent NAB Director General Zahir Shah, are being floated for the post. In the month of July, the Supreme Judicial Council had noted that the top court had never “receded” from its suggestion of consultation with the CJP in the process of the appointment of the NAB chairman.

"It is apparent that for the appointment of the NAB chairman, consultation with the chief justice of Pakistan [CJP] is not necessary but the suggestion of the Supreme Court in paragraph 288 in the case of Khan Asfand Yar Wali (2001 judgment) seem to be holding ground as in the case of Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan (PLD 2013), the Supreme Court has not receded from the suggestion,” read a four-page order issued by the SJC led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed, which was hearing the complaint of misconduct against the incumbent NAB chairman.

Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan had sought time to obtain instructions on the council’s observations. The council has yet to fix a meeting for this purpose.

It has been learnt that the government has yet to make a decision on appointing the NAB chairman with the consultation of the CJP.

On Tuesday, Senate Committee on Law and Justice Chairman Barrister Ali Zafar had strongly objected to the SC’s suggestion that the appointment of the anti-graft body’s chief should be made with the consultation of the CJP.

Zafar, a PTI senator, said there was a major conflict of interest in this situation.

He added that the NAB chairman headed the investigating and prosecuting agency while the courts judged the merits of the anti-graft body’s case after trial in accordance with the principle that not only justice be done but seen to be done as well.

"In our Constitution, the investigator and prosecutor must be separate from the court to maintain impartiality and ensure a fair trial. However, if the NAB chairman is appointed in consultation with the CJP, it will mean that the investigation, prosecution and judges are all part of the same team,” he pointed out.

Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) President Salahuddin Ahmed had already wondered as to why judges should choose the NAB chairman.

“Why not the FIA DG or the IGs of all provinces as well?” he added.

"When we are aggrieved with the actions of these people i.e. NAB, we go to judges for relief. There is a potential for conflict of interest if their appointment is also made by those same judges.

Legal experts believe that in case of extension in the tenure of the NAB chairman, the matter will be challenged in the superior courts.

So the role of the judiciary could not be ruled out in this matter, they added.
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1650347/consultation-over-new-nab-chief-lands-govt-in-a-quandary

Confusion prevailed in government ranks over the issue of consultation with Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on the appointment of the next National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman as three cabinet members issued conflicting statements on the matter.

Hours after Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told mediapersons during his post-cabinet meeting press conference that it had been decided that Prime Minister Imran Khan would not consult Shehbaz Sharif on the appointment of the new chief of the anti-graft watchdog and an ordinance would be promulgated on Wednesday (today) to allow incumbent NAB Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal to continue in office till his successor was appointed, Law Minister Farogh Naseem announced in a television show that Prime Minister Khan would consult the opposition leader on the matter.

“Although there is a conflict of interest if Shehbaz Sharif, who is facing NAB cases, holds consultation, it’s up to him now whether he thinks he should consult the prime minister or not on the matter,” the law minister said.

He said earlier it was suggested that Mr Sharif should not be consulted, but later the government felt that the opposition would term it one-sided if he (Mr Sharif) was not allowed to hold consultations.

The minister said the name of Javed Iqbal was also being considered as the new chairman of the bureau.

He said under the new ordinance, trial courts (accountability courts) would be empowered to grant or reject bails.

Earlier, a high-level meeting, presided over by Law Minister Farogh Naseem, was held on Tuesday which deliberated on amending the National Accountability Ordinance-1999 (NAO) through an ordinance to allow incumbent NAB Chairman Javed Iqbal to continue serving in his position till the new chief of the bureau took over.

Meanwhile, Fawad Chaudhry told mediapersons that the cabinet had asked the opposition to change its Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (Shehbaz Sharif) as he was involved in multiple corruption cases so that a new one could hold consultations with the prime minister to fulfill the constitutional requirement.

In case they fail to change the opposition leader, he said, the matter of appointing the new chairman would be referred to a parliamentary committee comprising legislators from both sides of the aisle.

“It is just as if a thief selects his own investigating officer,” said the information minister.

“We are clear that we will not consult him (Shehbaz) on the NAB chairman’s appointment and tomorrow, we will introduce an ordinance that will remove this lacuna [of the government being bound to consult the opposition leader],” Mr Chaudhry said.

Red Zone Files: Who will be the next NAB chairman?

The prime minister had already assi*gned the task to National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to engage with the opposition leaders and invite them to discuss proposed amendments to the NAB ordinance.

Talking to Dawn, former prosecutor general accountability Irfan Qadir said: “Under the NAO no extension can be given to the chairman and prosecutor general accountability (PAG) once their tenures end and they can be removed from their positions on the grounds similar to the removal of the Supreme Court judges.”

“But even in that case, the cases of the NAB chairman and PGA cannot be sent to the Supreme Judicial Council, the forum which decides judges’ removal,” he added.

Mr Qadir said he completed his three years term in 2006 and, after the next Prosecutor General Accountability Danishwar Malik, he was again appointed the PGA in 2010, but the Supreme Court dismissed his appointment and termed it “extension” of his job.

Fawad Chaudhry said in the new ordinance, accountability courts would be strengthened for speedy trial of corruption cases.

“After which day-to-day hearing of corruption cases will be held,” he added.

On the other hand, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan told Dawn that the prime minister had reiterated in the cabinet meeting that he would not consult with Shehbaz Sharif as he was facing three corruption cases.

“One of his (Shehbaz) cases is almost ripe and nearing a verdict, second is under trial and the third one is being probed,” Dr Awan said.

“The provision of consultation with the opposition leader has been kept intact in the new ordinance, but not with Shehbaz Sharif because of doctrine of conflict of interest,” he added.

Dr Awan said soon after the promulgation of the ordinance, the government would lay it in the form of a bill in the next session of the National Assembly.

“This will be the second attempt of the prime minister to amend controversial NAB laws; the first one was bulldozed by the opposition in the Senate, but now the opposition should act sagaciously and help pass the bill from the two houses of the parliament,” he said.

The prime minister’s aide said Shehbaz Sharif should show grace and step down from the office of leader of the opposition just like he had ceded the office of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman to another leader of his party — Rana Tanvir. “NAB laws should not be sacrificed for the whims of Shehbaz Sharif and his family,” he added.

The four-year tenure of the inc*umbent NAB chairman, retired Justice Javed Iqbal, is set to end in the second week of the current month.

He had taken over the charge of his office on Oct 10, 2017.

Mr Iqbal was appointed NAB chairman after the then PML-N government led by former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and the leader of the opposition at that time, Syed Khu*r*shid Shah, reached a consensus.

In a related development, NAB deputy chairman Hussain Asghar tendered his resignation on Monday. But it has not been officially announced by the bureau.
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Ordinance issued to extend term of NAB chairman

President empowered to grant extension
• New law strengthens opposition’s role in chairman’s appointment
• Reduces jurisdiction of accountability watchdog

ISLAMABAD: Amid criticism by opposition parties, President Dr Arif Alvi on Wednesday signed an ordinance that sharply reduces the jurisdiction of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and enables the president to reappoint the incumbent NAB chairman or extend his tenure.

Contrary to the rhetoric of some federal ministers that ruled out consultation over the appointment of NAB chairman with opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif as the latter faces corruption references, the National Acco*untability Second Ame*n*dment Ordinance 2021 has amplified the opposition’s role in the appointment of NAB chairman.

Another salient feature of the ordinance is exclusion of the federal and provincial cabinets, business community and collective decisions of the committees or sub-committees, Council of Common Interests, National Economic Council, National Finance Commission, Exe*cutive Committee of Natio*nal Economic Council, Cen*tral Development Working Party, Provincial Develop*ment Working Party, Departmental Development Working Party and State Bank of Pakistan from the ambit of NAB.

According to the ordinance, “all matters pertaining to Federal, Provincial or Local taxation, other levies or imposts, including refunds, or loss of exchequer pertaining to taxation” will be dealt with in accordance with the revenue or banking laws and will be transferred from the accountability courts to the courts of competent jurisdiction.

Moreover, NAB cannot proceed against “any person or entity who, or transaction in relation thereto, which are not directly or indirectly connected with the holder of a public office…procedural lapses in any public or governmental work, project or scheme, unless it is shown that a holder of public office or any other person has been conferred or has received any monetary or other material benefit from that particular public or governmental work”.

The ordinance has amended Sub-section b of Section 6 of the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) to grant extension in the tenure of the NAB chairman by excluding the word “non-extendable” from the statue.

However, it has retained the proviso that makes consultation between the opposition leader and the leader of the house in the National Assembly on the appointment of NAB chairman, but states that the president would consult both of them.

It has increased the role of the opposition and enhanced the parliamentary oversight as it has provided a forum of a 12-member parliamentary committee in case the consultation between the PM and the opposition leader proves futile.

The ordinance has enhanced the authority of prosecutor general of NAB empowering him to play a crucial role in advising the chairman to file or withdraw any reference from the court.

It has also allowed the accountability court to grant bail to any accused.

Earlier under the NAB law, there was no provision of granting bail to the accused as an under custody suspect could only apply for bail after expiry of his 90-day remand and that too under the extraordinary jurisdiction of the high court under Article 199 of the Constitution that empowers the high court to enforce fundamental rights.

The ordinance allows the appointment of retired judges of high courts as accountability judges. In addition, it provides that a district and sessions judge and an additional district and session judge may also be designated as the judge of accountability court with the consent of the chief justice of the high court concerned.

Federal Law Minister Barrister Dr Farogh Naseem and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain earlier held a press conference and explained that the law would enable NAB to focus on mega corruption cases.

Opposition’s reaction
Information secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians and the member of the National Assembly Shazia Marri has said that the government’s decision to extend the tenure of NAB Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal through a presidential ordinance is tantamount to distorting the constitution and law of the country. “The term of service of the NAB chairman is four years and cannot be extended through law”, she said.

She added that the PTI government wanted to breach the law by retaining the incumbent NAB chairman.

She claimed that the NAB chairman had given relief to the ministers and advisers of the government, Imran Khan’s helicopter case was suddenly closed and others cases like Malam Jabba, Peshawar BRT and Rawalpindi Ring Road were thrown in cold storage.

PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb termed the ordinance a black law and vowed to challenge it at appropriate forums. She expressed apprehension that the ordinance would create anarchy and worsen the situation since it was aimed at “political victimization”.

Awami National Party has also rejected the extension in the tenure of the NAB chairman through the ordinance and described the decision in violation of the constitution.

In a statement, ANP general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that the government was running all affairs through presidential ordinances as if it had lost control of its own members of the parliament.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2021
 
:facepalm: typical stuff by the undemocratic govt of pti.

This is against the constitution and law of Pakistan. NAB chairman tenure is of 4 years and cannot be extended. To appoint a new chairman the law states you have to consult the opposition leader.

This ordinance is not even gonna stand and will be reversed once opposition will challenge this.

As usual, dumb stuff by Imran, he is now going against the constitution and is desperate to do anything to target the opposition.
 
Major said:
:facepalm: typical stuff by the undemocratic govt of pti.

This is against the constitution and law of Pakistan. NAB chairman tenure is of 4 years and cannot be extended. To appoint a new chairman the law states you have to consult the opposition leader.

This ordinance is not even gonna stand and will be reversed once opposition will challenge this.

As usual, dumb stuff by Imran, he is now going against the constitution and is desperate to do anything to target the opposition.
Click to expand...

The NAB chairman was appointed by AZ and NS. They are the 2 biggest criminals in PK history,he hasn't prosecuted anyone.
How can you ask an opposition leader about the chairman of the anti graft body, when he is accused of billions in money laundering, 25bn to be precise. Its akin to asking a pedo on what the laws on abusing children should be.

This whole amendment was setup so that Nooras and PPP could do the topi drama of accusing each of other corruption but having a chairman that protected both. They never accounted for the Kaptaan to come in and smash their looting scam.
The chairman of NAB should be appointed by the 3 most senior judges.
 
Bewal Express said:
The NAB chairman was appointed by AZ and NS. They are the 2 biggest criminals in PK history,he hasn't prosecuted anyone.
How can you ask an opposition leader about the chairman of the anti graft body, when he is accused of billions in money laundering, 25bn to be precise. Its akin to asking a pedo on what the laws on abusing children should be.

This whole amendment was setup so that Nooras and PPP could do the topi drama of accusing each of other corruption but having a chairman that protected both. They never accounted for the Kaptaan to come in and smash their looting scam.
The chairman of NAB should be appointed by the 3 most senior judges.
Click to expand...

the law said so.

both pm and opposition leader need to decide
 
Major said:
the law said so.

both pm and opposition leader need to decide
Click to expand...

Why was this law put in place? It was never thought by your crooks that someone from outside might challenge this cosy crooked agreement to protect each other. IK is right again and should be applauded for doing the right thing.
 
Bewal Express said:
Why was this law put in place? It was never thought by your crooks that someone from outside might challenge this cosy crooked agreement to protect each other. IK is right again and should be applauded for doing the right thing.
Click to expand...

should be applauded for what? for going against the constitution, that shows he is more of a traitor.
 
Major said:
should be applauded for what? for going against the constitution, that shows he is more of a traitor.
Click to expand...

Well the courts will decide. But as always your 1st instinct is with crooks. Why did you avoid the question on the conflict of interest, should SS have a say in the next chairman of NAB when he is accused of such serious crimes.
 
With the amount of corruption and looting that has happened in Pakistan, NAB is like someone is given a toothpick to scrape off a mountain.

And even though, the record amount of money NAB is has recovered in the PTI's govt, is only a tip of the iceberg.

So, yes, NAB did perform a lot well if compared to it's performance under the previous govts but then again, 70 years of filth can't be scrapped off in 5 years.
 
Bewal Express said:
Well the courts will decide. But as always your 1st instinct is with crooks. Why did you avoid the question on the conflict of interest, should SS have a say in the next chairman of NAB when he is accused of such serious crimes.
Click to expand...

Who the hell is avoiding? You keep using such words but never bother to read the whole post.

Like i said the law states that nab chief shohld be selected based on consultation between pm and opposition leader and you cant give extention to someone.

Thats the law and it needs to be followed.

Conflict interest also exists when imran decided to incestigate his own psrty members for the pandora papers
 
Major said:
Who the hell is avoiding? You keep using such words but never bother to read the whole post.

Like i said the law states that nab chief shohld be selected based on consultation between pm and opposition leader and you cant give extention to someone.

Thats the law and it needs to be followed.

Conflict interest also exists when imran decided to incestigate his own psrty members for the pandora papers
Click to expand...

Firstly, the cabinet will also be investigated by NAB, an organisation whose chairman was appointed by AZ and NS, so you need try harder.
And it seems you are happy that a guy accused of laundering billions will have a say on the guy that will prosecute him. Your a parody, Somehow morals are not your thing.
 
What performance? Sharif's, Bhutto's, Zardari's and their clan are still out.
 
The finance ministry on Thursday disclosed that the National Accountability Bureau recovered and deposited only Rs6.5 billion in the kitty since its inception, giving a serious blow to the anti-corruption watchdog’s claim of recovering over Rs821 billion.

The actual amount that NAB recovered and deposited in the federal consolidated fund is just Rs6.5 billion, Tanvir Butt, the additional secretary budget informed the Senate Standing Committee on Finance.

Out of the Rs6.5 billion, the recoveries during the period of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government (2018-19 till September 2021) were mere Rs1.4 billion or 21.5 per cent of the total recoveries, according to documents submitted by the additional secretary budget.

NAB had recently claimed that it recovered worth Rs535 billion directly and indirectly from the corrupt elements during the past three years. But, such claims falls flat in light of the documents submitted by the finance ministry before parliament’s arm.

The highest amount recovered since 1999 was during the period of the PML-N government (2031-14 to 2017-18) when the anti-graft body had recovered worth Rs3.93 billion or nearly 61% and deposited into the kitty, according to the finance ministry.

The record submitted before the standing committee showed only Rs368 million worth of recoveries during General Musharraf regime that too during the last two years of the Musharraf regime. During the PPP tenure, the recovered amount stood at Rs771 million or 12% of the total recoveries.

“The receipts of recoveries made by NAB are deposited under the head of account C03850 - recovery of NAB” and the recoveries are deposited under this head of account without any further bifurcation, according to the ministry.

“The Finance Division while preparing this brief relied on the federal civil account report, which is authentic regarding the actual receipts in federal government’s account No 1,” according to the written statement submitted by the finance ministry before the body.

Butt further said that on the inquiry by Finance Division, NAB shared the detail of Rs821.5 billion “but we do not know where this money is,” as it has not been deposited in the federal consolidated fund.

Only NAB can answer about the recovery claims of Rs821.5 billion, said Butt.

The finance ministry told the standing committee that NAB told it that worth Rs821.5 billion had been recovered till September 2021. Such an amount included worth Rs76.9 billion shown as recoveries against voluntary return and plea bargain recoveries. Another amount of Rs121.7 billion is shown as bank loan default recoveries, Rs59.7 billion recoveries under restructuring of loans, Rs16.7 billion worth of recoveries against the PCBL case and worth Rs45.9 billion fines imposed by the courts.

NAB has shown worth Rs500 billion as “indirect recoveries”.

To a question raised by Senator Saleem Mandviwala, the additional secretary for finance responded that it was not known where the recovered money was collected. “The money was not being deposited in government accounts. It is not known in which account NAB deposited the recovery of Rs821 billion,” he added.

The committee members discerned that no one in the country has a record of such a huge amount of money, which is a matter of concern.

After deliberation, Committee Chairman Talha Mehmood decided to pen a letter to the Auditor General of Pakistan and the DG Accounts of NAB and summoned both figures in the committee’s next meeting. The committee chairman let out that the amount recovered by NAB would also be audited.

PML-N Senator Musaddiq Malik inquired from the central bank whether any money was recovered from abroad by the national-graft buster. SBP Deputy Governor Murtaza Syed said that the central bank would reply after checking the record.

NAB statements showed that out of the total recovery of Rs714 billion in white-collar crime cases since its inception in 1999, the anti-corruption watchdog recovered over Rs535 billion during the last three years with its Rawalpindi region chapter showing best performance through its major contribution to the recoveries.
 
ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday issued details of Rs821 billion recoveries it made in cases of white collar crime since the bureau’s inception in 1999.

The details were officially shared with the media in view of a controversy generated after the finance ministry announced on Nov 4 that it had only received Rs6.458bn out of the total Rs821bn.

The NAB spokesman claimed that out of Rs821bn recoveries, only Rs6.458bn related to the federal government departments were deposited with the finance ministry while the remaining was returned to the concerned provinces, banks and individuals.


According to the NAB headquarters, since its inception, the anti-graft watchdog recovered Rs821.573bn directly and indirectly till Sept 2021.

As per the statement, it said indirect recovery amounting to Rs500.65bn had directly been handed over to the relevant quarters, including the owners, claimants and other entities.

Some other recoveries included loan defaults and funds of financial institutions such as Punjab Cooperative Board for Liquidation (Punjab Cooperative Board Limited), which amounted to Rs198.057 billion. They have also been returned to the respective financial institutions.

Similarly, recoveries of fines amounting to Rs45.915bn imposed by various accountability courts were recovered under the relevant provisions of law.

The option of voluntary return and plea bargain are availed by the accused persons during the course of inquiries and investigations. The recoveries under the subject provisions are in cash and kind. However, the Supreme Court has ordered not to exercise the option of voluntary return vide petition no 17/2016.

The amount recovered under voluntary returns and plea bargain deals totalled Rs54.902bn while the remaining recoveries were in kind.

Moreover, Rs46.22bn had been disbursed to the respective provincial/federal entities concerned as per law.

In a recent meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and later in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting, the finance ministry expressed surprise over the massive gap in the claims and actual funds received by the national treasury. The Senate body therefore decided to seek help from the auditor general of Pakistan for a special audit.

In a paper sent to the Senate committee, NAB claimed Rs76bn as voluntary refund or plea bargain, Rs122bn as bank loan default recoveries, Rs60bn recovery on account of restructuring of loans, Rs46bn in court fines and over Rs500bn under various ‘indirect recoveries’.

In the standing committee meeting, Additional Finance Secretary Tanveer Butt had informed the panel that only Rs6.458bn had been received in non-tax revenue over the past 16 years on account of NAB recoveries.

“The money was not being deposited in government accounts. It is not known in which account NAB had deposited Rs821bn,” he had said.

Senator Saleem Mandviwala had said funds received from the National Crimes Agency, UK, had also not been deposited in the national kitty and was perhaps still being withheld.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2021
 
Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry on Monday said that the incumbent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) -led government has not suggested any names for the post of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman.

The minister took to his official Twitter handle to state that media reports claiming the party has suggested names were “not correct”.

“The names will be decided after consultation in the coming days,” he maintained.

His tweet comes after sources on Saturday said that the process for the appointment of the new chairman of NAB continues to be marred by delay on the part of President Arif Alvi even as considerable time has elapsed on deliberation.

Read: Govt finalising draft for NAB chairman’s appointment

Two weeks ago, the Ministry of Law pushed the lingering process a few significant steps ahead by forwarding a summary to President Alvi in compliance with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s instructions, the sources said.

With the ball now in the president’s court, the sources added, the president could not proceed with the talks with both the prime minister and the leader of the opposition.

Dr Arif Alvi, in the light of a judgement of the Supreme Court, is supposed to consult the prime minister and the leader of opposition in the National Assembly for NAB chairman.

The term of incumbent chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal expired in October. However, the government extended his term through a presidential ordinance.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/233599...of-pti-suggesting-names-for-nab-chairman-slot
 
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Shahzad Akbar on Monday announced that he had tendered his resignation from the post.

In a tweet, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader said he would remain associated with the PTI and keep "contributing as [a] member of legal fraternity".

"I sincerely hope the process of accountability continues under the leadership of PM Imran as per the PTI’s manifesto. I will remain associated with the party and keep contributing as a member of the legal fraternity," he said.

Akbar had been serving as the special assistant to the PM (SAPM) on accountability and interior since the PTI government came into power in August 2018. However, on July 23, 2020, he was upgraded as an adviser to the PM with the authority of a federal minister.

Resigned or sacked?

The abrupt resignation has come amid swirling speculations about the 'behind-the-scenes' developments that could have possibly led to the aide's "sacking", including a fallout with PM Imran over his inability to deliver.

Akbar, the whisperings suggest, failed to live up to the expectations of the prime minister who now increasingly views corruption cases against rivals, mainly Sharifs, as a centrepiece of his anti-corruption narrative.

Contrary to the official account, insiders insist that Akbar was in fact “sacked” after earning disappointment from none other than PM Imran who was unhappy with his inability to deliver on his “lofty claims”.

The speculation gains more impetus when the interesting timing of the resignation is factored in: Akbar's decision to resign comes at the heels of PM Imran’s frustrated calls for revved-up progress in the corruption cases against the Sharif family.

Among other reasons, sources said, the UK National Crime Agency’s (NCA) decision to unfreeze accounts of Shehbaz and his son was viewed as a major blow to the government’s corruption narrative against Shehbaz Sharif.

They cited “zero recoveries” by the Assets Recovery Unit (ARU) since its inception as another factor that led to him being sacked, adding that he “mislead” PM Imran during his briefings regarding accountability cases.

Furthermore, the sources revealed, the government was also smarting from the embarrassment it suffered in the Justice Faez Isa case.

The rumours about Akbar’s possible departure had been brewing up and making rounds for the past few days but they were tamped down by none other than the Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill.

But following Akbar’s resignation, Gill struggled to defend his earlier stance, saying he was bound to follow the official line while clarifying that his personal views could be different from what he was asked to say.

Surprisingly, his tweet raised several eyebrows as it implied that the official line could be different from reality. Insiders claimed that PM Imran was not satisfied with Akbar’s performance but the officials kept denying it, saying the premier has lauded Akbar’s services till the last day as he helped the government in exposing mafias.

“PM Sahib has lauded Akbar’s performance today; he did tremendous work; exposed mafias; and traced benami accounts and thousands of transactions made through them,” SAPM Ali Nawaz Awan said, “he [Akbar] has ended at a good note”.

Awan said that Akbar would be focusing more on his career as a lawyer while conjecturing that financial aspects of a government official and other professionals were polls apart.

In a video clip on social media, Gill also suggested that some people “burn out” while further attributing to PM Imran that he has always been saying that the process of accountability should be swift and the government wished to change the judicial system.

Asked whether the accountability narrative ended with Akbar’s resignation, the information minister Chaudhry Fawad said that the administrative side of corruption cases has been completed and now the cases were before the courts, suggesting that Akbar’s departure won’t affect to that extent.

“Shahzad Akbar Sahib has done wonderful work; he has exposed people under difficult circumstances, and he would continue to work as a member of the core committee,” Fawad said.

When asked if Akbar was sacked, Fawad said: “Shahzad Akbar has resigned and it was being heard for some time now that he wanted to resign.” Fawad said that names were being considered and he would share details when the prime minister finalizes a name.

Against the backdrops of murmurs of a possible deal, political observers said that PM feels threatened that PTI’s narrative of accountability was falling of its own weight and has since directed his teammates to tell people about the Sharif family’s cases.

Political pundits believe that Nawaz Sharif is already disqualified but his younger brother is seen as a real threat in the next elections considering that the younger Sharif is also seen to be acceptable for the powers that be.

Following the exit of the accountability czar, names of the next candidate are already being considered but the task of ensuring immediate conclusions in the cases against Sharifs and Zardaris would loom over the requirements of the job.

To win public support back, the government’s spokesperson even urged the country’s chief justices on Monday to hear their cases on daily basis, telecast them live and let people judge.

Several calls were made to Akbar, Gill, and Fawad but they didn’t attend. They did not reply to the text messages as well.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2340185/pm-imrans-accountability-czar-shahzad-akbar-bows-out
 
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has for the first time publicly admitted that Prime Minister Imran Khan was not happy with the performance of Shahzad Akbar, who abruptly stepped down from the post of adviser to PM on accountability and interior earlier this week.

In an interview with BBC Urdu on Thursday, the interior minister while responding to a question said Akbar’s failure to bring back former premier Nawaz Sharif from London was not only the reason for his departure from the federal cabinet.

“He could not recover [plundered] wealth... only Shehbaz Sharif [PML-N president] is facing a money laundering case of worth Rs16 billion but we could not even recover that [amount],” Rashid said.

Speaking about the ruling PTI’s anti-corruption drive, he said PM Imran is adamant about eradicating grafts from the country and sacked many members from his party and the government’s positions over corruption allegations.

“Imran Khan can't do more than that," he added.

Rashid said people voted for Imran Khan to hold the “corrupt and plunderers” accountable but admitted that due to some “weaknesses” the ruling PTI could not fulfil his pre-election promise.

The government, he also said, is making efforts to sign extradition treaties with other countries, especially the UK to bring back those wanted by courts and other criminals.

The federal minister added that the government is also making efforts for the extradition of Nawaz Sharif while admitting granting him rare permission to fly abroad in 2019 was the government’s fault.

“We sent him [Nawaz Sharif] ourselves, it is our fault. They managed to throw dust in everyone's eyes and escaped,” he remarked.

On Wednesday, PM Imran claimed that he had already fulfilled his pre-election promise of eradicating corruption from the country in 90 days within the stipulated time after coming into power.

A day after Pakistan slipped down on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for 2021, Premier Imran said that no scandal of financial corruption emerged during the incumbent government’s tenure, whereas scandals like Panama Papers surfaced during previous government’s rule.

“The promise to end corruption in 90 days has already been fulfilled,” a party leader, who wishes not to be named, quoted the prime minister as saying, while addressing a meeting of the spokespersons for the ruling party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2340717/pm-was-not-happy-with-shahzad-akbars-performance-reveals-rashid
 
The CEO of asset recovery firm Broadsheet, which years ago was contracted by General Musharraf to probe political opponents including the Sharifs, has issued an apology to the PML-N supreme leader through a video interview with GEO News for allegations of corruption.

“We found a lot of plundered wealth [linked to others], but I can categorically state after virtually 21 years of investigation that not one rupee was related to Mr Nawaz Sharif or any member of his family. If anyone says otherwise they are lying,” Kaveh Moussavi said.

“I have no hesitation in issuing an apology to the former prime minister for my being party to a scam and scandalous nonsense masquerading as the National Accountability Bureau,” Moussavi said, adding: “NAB is a fraud through and through.”

He also said Nawaz Sharif was “the victim of a scandalous witch-hunt”.

“When the facts change, I change my views,” he added.

Last year, on several occasions, Moussavi had claimed to have evidence of “corruption” against Nawaz Sharif, and had even claimed that the Sharif family approached him with a bribe.

The Sharifs denied the allegations, and even secured the payment of £20,000 (Rs4.5 million) in litigation costs last year from the firm after it was unsuccessful in its attempts to lay a claim on Avenfield apartments.

Broadsheet LLC was registered in the Isle of Man on June 20, 2000 and helped the Musharraf government and the newly-established NAB track down foreign assets purchased through alleged ill-gotten wealth. Owned by Moussavi, an Iranian-born former Oxford University academic, Broadsheet is now under his supervision after he initially funded the arbitration and previously served a year-long prison sentence in England for contempt of court in unrelated proceedings.

Broadsheet maintains that it was created to be a company specialising in the recovery of assets and funds and was, therefore, engaged to trace, locate and transfer such items back to the state.

“Twenty-two years ago when Musharraf asked us to investigate you [Nawaz Sharif], we were led to believe and started investigating, and at every turn we found that the investigation was sabotaged not because we were getting close but we because that the intention was a witch hunt,” he said in his recent video interview. “The National Accountability Bureau also subjected us to a fraudulent misrepresentation.”

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2022
 
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that revelations made by Broadsheet LLC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kaveh Moussavi had exposed the "politically inspired witch-hunt of Nawaz Sharif and family in the name of so-called accountability".

The remarks by the leader of the opposition came after Moussavi apologised to the former prime minister over bribery charges during an interview with a local news channel.

Moussavi, in an interview with a private TV channel, said that he could 'categorically' state after more than two decades of investigation that none of the money was related to either Nawaz or his family. He also apologised to the PML-N supremo.

“Corruption allegations were made to keep him out of public life. Now the whole edifice of lies, deceit and character assassination stands demolished,” Shehbaz added.

Broadsheet LLC was incorporated in the Isle of Man to help Pervez Musharraf's government and the then newly established NAB to track down foreign assets purchased by Pakistanis allegedly through their ill-gotten wealth.

After NAB terminated the contract in 2003, Broadsheet LLC and another company involved as a third party filed for damages in a United Kingdom court.

It claimed that Pakistan owed them money according to the terms agreed upon since the government was taking action to confiscate some of the assets they had identified, including the Avenfield property owned by the family of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

The companies' claims against Pakistan were held valid by an arbitration court in 2016 and later by a United Kingdom high court that gave an award of over $28 million against Pakistan last year.

Broadsheet LLC arbitration decision came in 2016 – the same year when the Panama Papers had rocked Pakistan. However, nobody knew about it until a court in the UK ordered authorities to deduct $28.7 million from Pakistan High Commission’s account in London.

In January 2021, Moussavi accused the Sharif family of bribery and asserted that a man named Anjum Dar approached him in 2012 and identified himself as Nawaz Sharif's nephew. "The man said he wanted to talk about the information we have against the Sharif family."

Moussavi alleged that during the meeting, the man offered $25 million for not disclosing information and evidence regarding the Sharif family's assets, which he turned down, saying that any such amount should be offered through a conciliatory court.

When asked why the Sharif family contacted him about ten years after the completion of his investigation in 2003, Moussavi said: "The Sharif family knew that when the matter would be brought before the court, the judge would get down to the bottom of the matter and thus once again the case of their alleged corruption will come to light which they did not want."

Nawaz Sharif's son Hussain Nawaz denied the allegations in local media at the time.

Express Tribune
 
LONDON: Federal Minister Ali Haider has confirmed that he passed information received from Broadsheet's CEO Kaveh Moussavi to the “relevant authorities” and had no further role to play.

In an exclusive interview in which the Broadsheet CEO apologised to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif withdrawing all allegations of corruption and saying that he was sorry to be a part of the National Accountability Bureau’s witch-hunt of Nawaz Sharif, Kaveh Moussavi revealed that he was in touch with Prime Minister Imran Khan through a minister. He said the two ministers were Shehzad Akbar and Ali Haider Zaidi.

About Ali Haider Zaidi, the Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping, Kaveh Moussavi said he was in touch with him through Skype and WhatsApp and had told him he was speaking to him with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s mandate.

Ali Haider Zaidi confirmed to The News that he was in touch with Kaveh Moussavi but he didn’t answer what was discussed during their interaction. However, Ali Zaidi endorsed Kaveh Moussavi’s claim that he had shared crucial information with him. Ali Zaidi said: “I passed all the info to the relevant authorities. That’s all!”

On 15 January 2021, Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced that he would be reaching out to Kaveh Moussavi. The PM said in an interview: “We are going to reach out to the Broadsheet CEO and request him to share full details with us, especially the government that will seek detailed information from him. So far, it's in the media only but we are going to ask him for full details to share with us what happened, who met, when and how so that we officially know.”

On 13 January 2021, Prime Minister Imran Khan said: “The Broadsheet owner has said that a Pakistani politician transferred USD 1 billion USD from Saudi Arabia to London, he’s not naming who but USD 1 billion sent by one man; the people here are very rich but the country is poor and under the debt. The country is relying on debt. There are Pakistanis who live in palaces in the most expensive areas of London.”

Kaveh Moussavi confirmed on Tuesday evening that Ali Zaidi got in touch with him on 14 January 2021 and they started talking. Like Ali Zaidi, he didn't go into details of what was discussed but confirmed he passed important information on Zaidi's request.

Neither PM Imran Khan nor Kaveh Moussavi named Nawaz Sharif but it was speculated that the alleged USD 1 billion belonged to Nawaz Sharif as the PM made reference to Pakistanis living in expensive London areas – a reference he has often used for the two sons of Nawaz Sharif who live on Park Lane.

However, Kaveh Moussavi has said that during his investigation he found “not a Rupee” linked to Nawaz Sharif and family anywhere in the world. He has also said that it was a fiction spread in the media ahead of 2018 general elections that Nawaz Sharif may have an account in Singapore linked to the same alleged amount. Kaveh Moussavi has said that there is no such amount linked to Nawaz Sharif and Broadsheet didn’t make any such finding.

Kaveh Moussavi said on Tuesday that The News published the exclusive story and Geo News aired the interview, he started receiving non-stop phone calls from Pakistani media requesting an interview and some asking him to rebut the story of The News and Geo but Kaveh Moussavi took to Twitter and re-published the story of The News. The story became headline across all channels after Geo aired it on Tuesday morning and almost every major talk show discussed the apology.

The Broadsheet’s CEO, Kaveh Moussavi, alleged that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reiterated yesterday that his assets recovery firm had found no evidence of corruption against Nawaz Sharif and his family after Geo News aired an exclusive interview in which Kaveh Moussavi apologised to the former prime minister for making false allegations of corruption against him and for running a campaign against him for over two decades.

Kaveh Moussavi tweeted that the “Broadsheet had found millions of stolen loot but not one Rupee attributable to Nawaz Sharif or family”.

He tweeted: “My phone hasn’t stopped ringing this morning. Delighted to see the press waking up to the fact that NAB is the corrupt entity that needs to be investigated. I confirm again: Broadsheet found millions of stolen loot, but not 1 rupee attributable to Nawaz Sharif or family. Period!”

Kaveh Moussavi further said that NAB wanted his assets recovery firm to only go after the political enemies of the then government but he refused. The Broadsheet CEO said: “Let me spell it out. NAB was a witch-hunt outfit, not an anti-corruption agency. They wanted us to go after their political enemies. We said “No”. We are an anti-corruption outfit. We found stolen money. They sacked us. The court agreed with us! NAB was a conspiracy to defraud!”

Earlier, Kaveh Moussavi issued a profound apology to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif withdrawing all corruption allegations and for being part of a “witch-hunt” that has been running in the name of accountability for over two decades.

In an exclusive interview with this reporter, the Broadsheet’s CEO and former Oxford University associate said he was apologising to Nawaz Sharif to set the record straight that he had not found a “scintilla of evidence” and “not one Rupee” during Broadsheet’s forensic investigation into Nawaz Sharif and his family for over two decades.

Kaveh Moussavi said Broadsheet’s investigations found no evidence of corruption, stolen or hidden wealth or unexplained wealth anywhere in the world. He said: “Not one rupee. We found a lot of plundered wealth but not one Rupee relating to Mr Nawaz Sharif, the former Prime Minister, or any member of his family. Not one Rupee, I can categorically say that after virtually 21 years of investigations. If anybody tells you otherwise, they are lying to you.”

Moussavi said: “I have no hesitation in issuing an apology to the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for having been a part of the sham, the scandalous non-sense masquerading as NAB. It’s a fraud through and through.”

When asked if he was aware that he was apologising to Nawaz Sharif as there were deep political consequences to it, Kaveh Moussavi repeated his apology addressing Nawaz Sharif directly. “I repeat it: Mr Sharif, we owe you an apology because Mr Sharif you clearly were the victim of a massive organised scandalous witch-hunt. There’s no question about that. When facts change, I change my views. 22 years ago when Pervez Musharraf asked us to investigate you, we were led to believe and we started investigating and at every turn we found that that investigation was sabotaged not because we were getting close to things but because the intention was something else. That actually was a witch-hunt, the intention was not to find any looted assets.”

Kaveh Moussavi added: “We proceeded independently and I can tell you categorically we didn’t find one Rupee of stolen assets or assets which can be attributed to either Mr Nawaz Sharif or his family.”

Last year, Kaveh Moussavi won over $30 million from the Government of Pakistan at London High Court after the arbitration judge Sir Anthony ruled in favour of Moussavi and the same case has cost Pakistan over $65 million. Kaveh Moussavi has worked as an International Arbitrator at the International Court of Arbitration and as an Associate Fellow at the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies at the University and Head of Public Interest Law, Oxford University. Broadsheet had signed a contract with Pervez Musharraf government in 1999 to find the alleged stolen wealth of Nawaz Sharif, Benazir Bhutto and hundreds of Pakistanis from civil, political, business and military backgrounds.

GEO
 
PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday told the newly-elected government, which is being led by his party's president, Shehbaz Sharif, to dissolve the National Accountability Bureau and hold its employees accountable.

"NAB's employees looted and tortured people for years. It's time they should be held accountable," he said at a media talk in Islamabad today morning.

Abbasi came down on the chairman of the bureau, accusing him of "being fully under control" of PTI Chairman and former PM Imran Khan. "He used to take instructions [from the previous government]."

He claimed that there was a minister in Imran Khan's office who used to issue orders to the NAB chief regarding lodging fake cases, arresting people and defaming them. "This is your NAB chairman ... who stayed quiet on Imran Khan's corruption," the PML-N leader added.

He also lamented that NAB couldn't prove a single reference or inquiry against PML-N leaders in the last four years. "Why didn't they investigate people who were involved in corruption worth billions [of rupees] and were sitting in the federal cabinet," Abbasi demanded.

Now, he announced, was time to hold NAB accountable. "We are not taking revenge from anyone. We just want to expose the reality of NAB in front of the public. Accountability exists in the country but if you want to indulge in corruption, go to NAB," Abbasi said.

He also revealed that the government would move courts for the installation of cameras inside NAB courts so that the "public knows who is actually involved in corruption".

"We won't arrest anyone. Weak people like the NAB chairman will be the first person to arrested Imran Khan's people. But this is not our way," Abbasi pointed out, adding that the PML-N had always maintained its honour and respect in politics.

Whatever happened in the last four years, he reiterated, would be kept in front of the public.

DAWN
 
As expected. Another prediction of Imran Khan that's coming true.
If Imran had full control of NAB as they claim, the sharrifs would've been behind bars rather than in Parliament
 
daytrader said:
As expected. Another prediction of Imran Khan that's coming true.
If Imran had full control of NAB as they claim, the sharrifs would've been behind bars rather than in Parliament
Click to expand...

Under Imran Khan's tenure all major opposition leaders were arrested. The list includes: Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Khawaja Salman Rafique, Shehbaz Sharif, Hamza Shehbaz, Khursheed Shah, Faryal Talpur, Agha Siraj Durrani, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal and Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

With the exception of Nawaz Sharif and Maryam (who was already sentenced before IK took charge) not a single one of these cases resulted in conviction in the PTI’s three years.

The judiciary also criticized NAB for failing to produce a convincing case against many opposition leaders which led to the courts giving them bail.

NAB was used by Imran for political victimization and this issue needs to be addressed. No one should be allowed to use NAB as a weapon.
 
PML-N lawmaker and former speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, on Wednesday called for placing the entire staff of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) along with its chairman on the Exit Control List (ECL) for their alleged corruption during the PTI-led government.

Talking to the media in Islamabad, Sadiq accused the accountability watchdog of turning a blind eye to the wrongdoings of the then PTI government and targeting their rivals.

Senior PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had on Tuesday also voiced similar sentiments against the NAB and urged his party's newly elected government to dissolve the Bureau and hold its employees accountable.

At a press conference today, Sadiq said NAB was wrong to believe that it could go scot-free for all its "malpractices". "We were always sure of a nexus between Imran Khan and the NAB, and this connection proved true with time."

He also demanded that an investigation into the extravagant lifestyle and "living beyond means" of all NAB officials should be conducted.

About resignations submitted by PTI lawmakers in the National Assembly, Sadiq alleged that the PTI did not intend to resign from assemblies and that "they are just creating a fake impression on the issue".

He explained that there was a proper procedure to submit a resignation, which included appearing in person before the speaker. "Resignations are not given the way the PTI has submitted them. They deliberately avoided rules for the process."

To a question about the reservations of the MQM-P, the PML-N leader said the former was a part of the government and an agreement was already in place with them.

DAWN
 
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that his government has decided to reform the system to provide security to the bureaucracy under which certain changes will be made, including amendment in the rules of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

According to sources, the prime minister has approved the formation of a high-powered committee headed by former senior bureaucrat Nasir Mahmood Khosa. The committee will include former chief secretaries, former federal secretaries, former inspectors general and other. While the premier is appointing the head of the committee, other members would be appointed by Khosa himself.

The committee will have complete authority to review the performance of governmental departments and make relevant suggestions. PM Shehbaz also sought suggestions on the current situation from the committee.

The report stated that the decision was taken in view of the concerns expressed by bureaucrats.

The committee will make suggestions for necessary policy changes and will also suggest measures for improving the performance of the bureaucracy.

Express Tribune
 
I think NAB was working well under IK but the problem is the courts wont find these corrupt people guilty because the judges are all in their pockets. There are so many open and shut cases that NAB managed to put together but they cannot act as judge, jury, executioner.
 
Stewie said:
I think NAB was working well under IK but the problem is the courts wont find these corrupt people guilty because the judges are all in their pockets. There are so many open and shut cases that NAB managed to put together but they cannot act as judge, jury, executioner.
Click to expand...

In the 2020 Shebhaz Shariff stated that he is a cancer patient with low immunity and therefore cannot attend his court hearing.
Fast forward two years and he is now the PM of Pakistan.

Forget the NAB and the Courts, only a revolution will change Pakistan.
 
Politicians and bureaucrats have shown mixed view over the fate of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), as some suggest its abolition while other recommend necessary amendments to the law to ensure transparency in the accountability process.

Some senior government functionaries and a number of federal ministers have closed ranks for the abolition of NAB over its alleged use to intimidate bureaucracy, victimise political opponents and harass the business community.

However, a group of top officials and cabinet members opposed shelving the graft buster and recommend to make amendment to the NAB Ordinance to bring transparency in trial process and setting up a commission to investigate cases of NAB’s injustice and human rights violations.

During a recent federal cabinet meeting, the law and justice minister highlighted that the NAB Amendment Ordinance, 2021, was set to expire on June 2, and under the Constitution it could not be extended any further. He added that it was an opportune time to revisit the amendments.

The cabinet members were unanimous in observing that NAB had only served as a tool of harassment rather than accountability. The graft buster had been used to victimise political rivals, intimidate the bureaucracy and harass the business community.

The ministers noted that NAB had serious capacity issues and accused it of being “guilty of frequent human rights violations”. They said that the treatment meted out to politicians, civil servants and eminent businessmen by the NAB officers was extremely “tormenting and demeaning”.

There were even reports of these officers bragging about humiliating the prominent personalities in private gatherings. Some of the cabinet members argued that NAB should be abolished in the presence of other accountability institutions.

In this regard the minister referred to the anti-corruption entities in the provinces Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) at the federal level, arguing that there was no need for a supra accountability body, therefore, the NAB was a redundant body.

However, others who favoured retention of NAB as an institution, advocating a holistic review of the accountability laws to amend draconian clauses after their examination at the touchstone of the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution.

When the prime minister sought the view of the cabinet secretary on the matter, he replied that the issue had been discussed at length in the secretaries committee with the intent to support the government in policy making and implementation.

He also pointed out that the civil servants were fully supportive of fair and transparent accountability, unfortunately, the NAB had not only been questioning their decisions taken in good faith without any proof of financial corruption but also those made by the collective wisdom of the cabinet and its committees.
Such indifference towards Executive Authorities Had exposed the civil servants to palpable risk, the secretary said. Against this backdrop, the secretaries committee had formulated its recommendations for amendments to the NAB law, which were submitted to the former prime minister. He offered to resubmit the recommendations to the prime minister.

Seven federal secretaries present in the cabinet meeting were also given the opportunity by the prime minister to express their views. There was consensus amongst them that the decision-making had been stymied and that there should be protection against the actions taken in the earnest.

Some of the representatives of the bureaucracy also supported abolition of NAB, , while others backed the proposal for constituting a committee, with representation from businessmen, bankers, lawyers and bureaucracy, to review and amend the NAB laws.

The cabinet decided to hold consultation with cabinet members and reach out to eminent businessmen, bankers, jurists, human rights experts, and other stakeholders before firming up their recommendations.

Express Tribune
 
The joint session of Parliament on Thursday passed the long-expected National Accountability (Second Amendment) Bill 2021, which makes significant changes in the anti-graft and accountability law of the country.

Key points from the Bill:
- Once passed by the Senate, and signed into law by the president, the Bill will apply to all cases, being probed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), since 1999.

- Out of NAB’s jurisdiction are now:

Matters of taxation at the federal and provincial level
Decisions of the federal or provincial cabinets, their committee, sub-committees, national economic council, national finance commission, the state bank of Pakistan and any other such bodies except if a public holder has received monetary gain as a result of such decisions
Procedural lapses of any public of governmental work unless it can be proven that a public office holder received financial gain
Decisions taken or advice given by an official while on duty, unless proven that financial gains have been made
- The definition of “asset” has been altered. The 1999 Ordinance classified “asset” as those held by the accused, including by his/her spouse, relatives, or associates. In the amended bill, “spouse, relatives, associates” has been removed.

- A judge of an accountability court will be appointed for a three-year-term and cannot be removed or transferred without consulting the chief justice of the high court.

- Consultation for the chairperson of NAB will begin two months prior to the retirement of the previous chairperson, and will now have to be concluded within 45 days.

- If the leader of the House and Opposition do not agree on a name for a chairperson, then the matter will go to a parliamentary committee. That too is now time-bound and the committee has 30 days to recommend a name.

- The chairperson NAB’s term has been reduced from four years to three years and will not be eligible for reappointment or an extension.

- If the office of the chairperson is vacant, the deputy chairperson will take over as acting chairperson.

- In the previous Ordinance, the deputy chairperson was appointed by the president, but under the new bill the word “president” has been replaced with “federal government”.

- A prosecutor-general will serve for a non-extendable term of three years and will be appointed by the federal government, not the president.

- The valuation of immovable property shall be reckoned on the date of purchase.

- Misuse of authority has to be proven through material evidence and that official gained monetary benefits.

- A closed inquiry cannot be reopened without permission from courts.

- A case once in courts has to be disposed of in one year now, instead of 30 days, as stated in the 1999 Ordinance.

- A copy of the inquiry report must be provided to the accused.

- All inquiries by NAB have to now be completed within six months.

- The 1999 Ordinance had barred an accused from transferring property if he/she is under probe by NAB. That has now been deleted.

- As per the 1999 Ordinance, the NAB chairperson had the power to arrest an accused at any stage of inquiry. This has been altered and an arrest can only be ordered if a person refuses to join the investigation, attempts to abscond or could tamper with evidence.

- NAB’s 90 day remand has been reduced to 14 days.

- A convicted person now has 30 days, instead of the previous 10 days, to appeal against a judgement in a higher court.

- No official of NAB shall make any statement in public or to the media regarding any inquiry or investigation conducted by NAB, until a reference has been filed. Those who violate this section can face imprisonment for one year or fine.

- People who initiate false or fabricated cases will now be punished with imprisonment of either five years or a fine.

GEO
 
The Senate passed two crucial bills, the Elections (Amendment) Bill 2022 and the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Bill 2021 on Friday, a day after they sailed through the National Assembly.

The bills that were passed by the lower house yesterday sought to reverse changes made in the election laws by the previous PTI government regarding the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and i-voting for overseas Pakistanis and clipping the vast powers of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Today, they were presented by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Murtaza Javed Abbasi and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, respectively, in the Senate.

The bills were presented amid talks about the possibility of early elections in the country and a day after PTI chairman Imran Khan abruptly ended his long march by giving a six-day deadline to the government to announce the election date.


After their approval from both houses, only the president's assent is required for them to become law.

When Abbasi presented the Elections (Amendment) Bill 2022 amid chants of "no, no" from the opposition, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani asked whether the bill should be sent to the relevant committee.

Tarar replied that the committee had already approved the bill. He clarified that overseas Pakistanis had not been deprived of their right to vote.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had been asked to ensure voting rights while assuring secrecy, he told the upper house of parliament.

"The ECP said we will not be able to conduct elections [using electronic voting machines]. The Election Commission should ensure overseas Pakistanis can vote."

Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Dr Shahzad Waseem, said the opposition would not allow anyone to "rob" overseas Pakistanis of their right to vote or compromise on the use of EVMs.

At this point, Tarar noted that former science minister Senator Shibli Faraz and former railways minister Azam Swati were part of the Senate panel that had approved the bill.

However, Faraz said the government was trying to give the impression that the bill was acceptable to him, which was based on "mala fide intentions".

"Votes were equal in the committee [meeting] during which the bill was considered," he said and added that the Election Commission's objections were "just a piece of paper that has no value".

Following Faraz's response, the opposition members started sloganeering again.

Subsequently, the Senate chairman asked whether the bill should be sent to the committee but the majority of the members answered in the negative.

Thereafter, the Elections (Amendment) Bill 2022 was passed by the Senate.

The Senate session once again witnessed shouting as opposition members chanted slogans of "imported government" and "no to NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance)".

Later during the session, Tarar presented the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Bill 2021 which was also passed.

The session was adjourned till 4pm on Monday.

Election laws
Under the amendment to Section 94 of the Election Act of 2017, the ECP may conduct pilot projects for voting by overseas Pakistanis in by-elections to ascertain the technical efficacy, secrecy, security and financial feasibility of such voting and shall share the results with the government, which shall, within 15 days from the commencement of a session of a house after the receipt of the report, lay the same before both houses of parliament.

Under the amendment to Section 103 of the Election Act, the ECP may conduct pilot projects to utilise EVMs and the biometric verification system in by-elections.

DAWN
 
Amazing how the criminals are making sure they are free again!

Are our courts asleep?
 
Former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Sunday accused the government of amending accountability laws to protect the "corrupt elite class", claiming PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be "direct beneficiaries of the changes".

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Qureshi alleged the amendments made by the government to the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 were the ones they had once proposed to the PTI in an attempt to get the NRO — a term politicians used to imply concessions.

The National Assembly had on May 26 approved the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Amendments to NAB Ordinance
NAB deputy chairman to become acting chairman following top official's retirement.
Process to appoint new chairman to begin two months prior to incumbent's retirement and completed in 40 days.
Federal and provincial tax matters removed from NAB's purview.
Regulatory bodies' decisions removed from NAB's purview.
Judges to be appointed in accountability courts for a three-year period; cases to be decided within year.
NAB bound to ensure availability of evidence prior to arrest.
Up to five-years imprisonment for filing false reference.
According to Qureshi, the prime minister will be a direct beneficiary of the amendment made in Section-9 (A-V) which deals with corruption and corrupt practises as well as wealth beyond sources of income.


Similarly, the former minister claimed PML-N supremo Nawaz will also directly benefit from changes in Section-14 of the NAO, which relates to "presumption against accused accepting illegal gratification". Under this section, the suspect who was bound to furnish a money trail will no longer be required to provide the same, he added.

He told the journalists that a blanket cover had been given to all cases pertaining to money laundering and asset beyond means.

"After the amendment, the legal and statutory protection to NAB has been compromised and it has now come under the federal government."

PTI to approach Supreme Court
The senior PTI leader said his party had decided to approach the Supreme Court to challenge the amendments along with other election-related legislation passed by the government, saying "we also urge the top court to take notice of changes to the NAB law which has made the accountability watchdog dysfunctional".

He was of the view that the entire exercise undertaken by the PML-N-led government was aimed at "benefitting" political personalities who were facing high profile cases.

He said the amendments approved by the government were in contravention of the UN Convention gainst Corruption and Financial Action Task Force requirements.

Qureshi said that around "80 per cent of NAB cases" will be transferred to other courts from accountability courts, saying "this is exactly what the PML-N and the PPP had been looking forward to for a long time".

The PTI leader also objected to the passage of the Elections (Amendment) Bill 2022, which seeks to remove the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in general elections as well as disallows overseas Pakistanis from voting electronically.

"Overseas Pakistanis are significant contributors to our economy, but the PPP and the PML-N believe that Pakistanis based abroad are inclined towards the PTI, hence it excluded all of them from voting right, which is injustice," the ex-minister added.

He said the PTI also planned to challenge the amendments to the election law as well.

Qureshi recalled that he contested polls in 2018 from NA-156 and PP-217 , saying: "I won the NA seat whose result was announced at 10pm, but I lost the provincial seat as its result was declared at 4am."

He said the staff tasked with counting the votes and managing the entire process were the same. "I am telling you because I have seen this happen."

The PTI leader said the electronic voting machines were introduced to eliminate chances of vote tampering, but the opposition did "where it finds its benefit".

https://www.dawn.com/news/1692111/n...eficiaries-of-nab-law-amendments-says-qureshi
 
Retired Justice Javed Iqbal relinquished charge as National Account**ability Bureau chairman on Thursday after the expiry of a recently promulgated ordinance which had allowed him to stay in office until the appointment of a new chief.

The previous government had promulgated the ordinance to extend the NAB chief’s tenure for an indefinite period.

However, the new government got a bill passed in the National Assembly which has made the watchdog, as described by PTI leaders, `toothless’.

A few names are in contention for succeeding Justice Javed Iqbal as NAB chairman.

Dawn
 
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court on Friday observed that it would examine changes being made to the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 -- the NAB law -- by the federal government as it could not overlook the efforts to "minimise the role" of the accountability watchdog.

The remarks were made by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial during the hearing of a suo moto case against alleged intervention in high-profile cases, including that of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz, by the government.

A five-member bench comprising Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, is hearing the case.

During the hearing today, the chief justice also commented on the appointment of the new NAB chief following the retirement of Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal. The top judge hoped the federal government would appoint a person of integrity to head the bureau.

The CJ told the NAB prosecutor general to inform the apex court in case there was pressure on the accountability watchdog to drop certain cases.

The judge also asked the NAB lawyer to pursue corruption cases that could lead to a conviction and drop those where evidence was lacking.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan told the accountability watchdog to share a complete record of high-profile cases with the top court.

'Reconsider ECL changes'

The top court had also taken up the issue of the removal of names from the Exit Control List (ECL) by the government through a decision made by the cabinet.

During the hearing, the bench said it would give time to the government to reconsider amendments to the ECL rules.

The CJP said that the court’s objections regarding the conflict of interest and the applicability of ECL rules retrospectively had substance as members of the cabinet were on the ECL themselves.

The chief justice further said that they do not want to interfere in the executive affairs at this time as one of the beneficiaries of these amendments – Finance Minister Miftah Ismail – may have gone abroad for important assignments.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2359838/sc-to-examine-changes-in-nab-law
 
President sends back bills seeking election reforms, amendments to NAB ordinance

President Dr Arif Alvi on Saturday returned two bills seeking to reverse the controversial changes made in the election laws by the previous PTI government regarding the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and i-voting for overseas Pakistanis and clipping the vast powers of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), to the prime minister for "reconsideration and detailed deliberation by the parliament and its committee(s)".

Both bills were passed by the National Assembly and the Senate last month. After their approval from both houses, only the president's assent was required for them to become law.

However, President Alvi returned the bills today, saying that they had violated Article 46 of the Constitution, according to which the prime minister "shall keep the president informed on all matters of internal and foreign policy and on all legislative proposals the federal government intends to bring before Majlis-e-Shoora (parliament)".

The president was not informed about the legislative proposals before bringing the bills to parliament, a statement from the President's Secretariat said.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1693106/pr...-nab-ordinance
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The President of Pakistan has returned the amendments to the NAB Ordinance to Parliament, insisting that when the onus of proof to show money trail is shifted from the accused to the prosecution in white collar crimes, it would become a futile excercise&#55357;&#56391;<a href="https://t.co/MGuQg60tnS">https://t.co/MGuQg60tnS</a></p>— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArifAlvi/status/1533109017135964161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Former Senate chairman Senator Raza Rabbani on Saturday said the notification allowing the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to screen civil servants was "surprising" and added that the move amounted to "ceding civilian space".

The reaction came a day after the government provided a legal cover to country’s premier spy agency to screen civil servants before their induction, appointments and postings, as well as promotions.

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator, in a statement, said the additional task of screening civil servants would "overburden" the ISI, keeping in view of the situation on the eastern and western borders, Afghanistan, Kashmir, internal terrorism and related issues.

The former senate chairman said the notification indicated a lack of confidence in the civilian apparatus of the state and "also blurs the distinction between the civil and military bureaucracy".

The Constitution as well as the Civil Servants Act, 1973, were comprehensive laws and did not require screening of civil servants, he noted.

"The courts have in some judgements disregarded intelligence reports in such matters. Civil servants are already working under the pressure of the NAB (National Accountability Bureau) law," Rabbani noted.

Another PPP senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar also criticised the government move. “The prime minister is requested to include all the ‘Public Office Holders’ in the proposed notification at once. Why discriminate against politicians? After all, traitors are more common in our ranks!,” he sarcastically remarked in a tweet.

Sources revealed that the decision was taken in a recent federal cabinet meeting but was kept hidden, adding that the ISI had already started working and sought data of government officers and their families from the departments concerned.

With the special status and powers, they said, the spy agency would keep an eye on the moral and financial affairs of the government officers and would submit details to the promotion boards, especially the high-powered board and Central Selection Board (CSB).

Previously, they maintained, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) was performing the vetting process and it had now been replaced by the ISI. Earlier, they said, the ISI was tasked with vetting the cases of officials before they were posted abroad, adding that they would now “have more influence over bureaucracy” as every appointment, posting and promotion would go through them.

Some government officers said that the government’s move surprised many as several parties in the coalition government used to oppose the interference of intelligence agencies in government’s affairs before coming to power. However after coming to power, they said, they had done exactly the opposite and, in fact, helped enhancing the spy agency’s control over bureaucracy and government’s affairs.

Some other bureaucrats, however, took the decision lightly as they believe the ISI would do what the IB was previously doing and there won’t be much difference. They said that the government officers had already served while being constantly monitored by NAB, adding that the pressure would be there but this would also become a routine thing after some time.

Express Tribune
 
MenInG said:
Former Senate chairman Senator Raza Rabbani on Saturday said the notification allowing the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to screen civil servants was "surprising" and added that the move amounted to "ceding civilian space".

The reaction came a day after the government provided a legal cover to country’s premier spy agency to screen civil servants before their induction, appointments and postings, as well as promotions.

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator, in a statement, said the additional task of screening civil servants would "overburden" the ISI, keeping in view of the situation on the eastern and western borders, Afghanistan, Kashmir, internal terrorism and related issues.

The former senate chairman said the notification indicated a lack of confidence in the civilian apparatus of the state and "also blurs the distinction between the civil and military bureaucracy".

The Constitution as well as the Civil Servants Act, 1973, were comprehensive laws and did not require screening of civil servants, he noted.

"The courts have in some judgements disregarded intelligence reports in such matters. Civil servants are already working under the pressure of the NAB (National Accountability Bureau) law," Rabbani noted.

Another PPP senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar also criticised the government move. “The prime minister is requested to include all the ‘Public Office Holders’ in the proposed notification at once. Why discriminate against politicians? After all, traitors are more common in our ranks!,” he sarcastically remarked in a tweet.

Sources revealed that the decision was taken in a recent federal cabinet meeting but was kept hidden, adding that the ISI had already started working and sought data of government officers and their families from the departments concerned.

With the special status and powers, they said, the spy agency would keep an eye on the moral and financial affairs of the government officers and would submit details to the promotion boards, especially the high-powered board and Central Selection Board (CSB).

Previously, they maintained, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) was performing the vetting process and it had now been replaced by the ISI. Earlier, they said, the ISI was tasked with vetting the cases of officials before they were posted abroad, adding that they would now “have more influence over bureaucracy” as every appointment, posting and promotion would go through them.

Some government officers said that the government’s move surprised many as several parties in the coalition government used to oppose the interference of intelligence agencies in government’s affairs before coming to power. However after coming to power, they said, they had done exactly the opposite and, in fact, helped enhancing the spy agency’s control over bureaucracy and government’s affairs.

Some other bureaucrats, however, took the decision lightly as they believe the ISI would do what the IB was previously doing and there won’t be much difference. They said that the government officers had already served while being constantly monitored by NAB, adding that the pressure would be there but this would also become a routine thing after some time.

Express Tribune
Click to expand...

As I have said we are under Martial Law and Bajwa is the chief. I wonder when [MENTION=135038]Major[/MENTION], Mamoon and @Top spin will realise that your singing to Bajwas tune. The cases in the FIA and SC are being used to blackmail a criminal and his family
 
Minister of State on Law and Justice Shahadat Awan on Thursday informed the Senate that the list of people, who had struck plea bargaining deals with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), mostly comprised of individuals affiliated with the real estate business.

Shahadat was responding to a query by Senator Azam Swati, who demanded to know about all the NAB officers, who had been investigated and punished for any wrongdoing or corruption in the last eight years.

The Senate session presided over by its chairman, Sadiq Sanjrani.

The minister of state on law and justice added that inquiries of misconduct and other matters had been conducted against 300 employees of NAB.

“Criminal cases are going on against NAB employees and some have been convicted. NAB employees themselves have applied for plea bargaining.”

Senator Jam Mahtab Hussain Dahar noted that the news had come about former PM’s aide Mirza Shahzad Akbar sending money abroad through the illegal process of Hundi.

Shahadat told him that he would ask NAB to start an inquiry into Akbar’s case.

The Senate chairman said information about this matter should be obtained and presented before the House.

The law ministry in its written reply informed the House that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had recovered Rs556 billion during the last three years. It added that the anti-graft body had recovered Rs141 billion in 2019, Rs323 billion in 2020 and Rs91 billion in 2021.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla pointed out that the lawmakers declared their assets to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) every year and then they were publicised on the media.

“Why the assets of NAB officials can’t be publicised?” he asked.

Minister of State on Law and Justice Shahadat Awan replied that all government departments submitted their declarations annually and if there was any discrepancy, it should be pointed out.

The Senate passed the Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation (FRDL) (Amendment) Bill, 2022 with a majority vote despite the opposition putting up a fierce resistance to the legislation.

The bill was moved by Minister of State for Finance Aisha Ghaus Pasha in the upper house of parliament and had already been passed by the National Assembly.

The House also unanimously approved the amendments to the bill for the establishment of the National Rehmatul-lil-Alameen Authority.

Federal Minister for Board of Investment Chaudhry Salik Hussain claimed that the “irresponsible” statements of the previous regime in the year 2018 had disturbed the country’s ties with China.

He added that no attention had been paid to the Gwadar seaport in the last four years.

The minister claimed that Gwadar port had not been trenched in the last four years and no big ship could come near it,

“Gwadar second phase was to be launched in connection with the industrial sector. Some special economic zones became real estate in Gwadar where only property purchase was under way.”

He added that instead of becoming a deep sea port, Gwadar had become a minor port.

Opposition Leader in the Senate Dr Shahzad Waseem lamented the manner in which the accountability and electoral reforms bills were passed.

“The bills were presented and bulldozed in the National Assembly and the next day the same thing happened in the Senate.”

Express Tribune
 
The National Accountability (Amendment) Bill 2022, which was approved during the joint parliament session, encompasses punishment for the person responsible for initiating false case against anyone.

Amendment to Section 36 says: "If the accused has been acquitted by the court on the ground that the case was initiated with mala fide intention or based on false or fabricated evidence, the person responsible shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine."

Likewise, the new amendment in the NAB law also restricted issuance of public statements. "No official of NAB, in any capacity shall make any statement in public or media regarding person involved in any inquiry or investigation conducted by NAB until a reference has been filed against such person," says Section 33F, which is inserted in the accountability law.

In case of giving a public statement, the NAB official could be punished for a minimum one month and a fine of one million rupees.

The most significant amendment is being made in Section 24 of NAO 1999 which regulates NAB chairman’s power of arrest.

The NAB chairman’s power of arrest was widely misused in the past. It is mentioned that the chairman may issue arrest warrant during investigation if the accused is intentionally or willfully not joining the investigation after repeated notice, the accused attempted to abscond, if there are sufficient grounds that the accused may tamper with the prosecution evidence and if there is sufficient information regarding repetition of continuation of offence under this ordinance. Likewise, NAB could detain the accused for 14 days during investigation. Earlier, NAB could detain the accused person for 90 days.

Regarding the removal of the NAB chairman, it is mentioned that he shall not be removed from office “except on the grounds and in the manner as provided in Article 209 of the Constitution”.

However, one section of the lawyers believe that the government did not completely resolve ambiguity by not clearly mentioning the word “forum” in the fresh amendment for removal of the NAB chairman.

Since the establishment of NAB law, there was ambiguity about the forum to try NAB chairman. The previous government through an ordinance had authorised the president of the country to remove the NAB chairman on account of misconduct.

However, several lawyers say that the words “in the manner as provided under Article 209” establish that the Supreme Judicial Council would be the forum to initiate proceedings against the NAB chairman.

Former additional attorney general Waqar Rana believes that there is no legislative power vested in parliament under the Constitution to confer power of removal on the SJC. "It is not a constitutional office. NAB is an investigation agency and like other executive agencies it is bound to be subservient to the Federal Government," he added.

Apprehensions:

During the hearing of a suo motu case on June 3, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial observed that they would examine the new amendments in the NAB law. He said that they could not ignore any move to minimise the role of NAB.

Following these observations, it is clearly reflected that the apex court would examine the amendments. Once again, composition of the bench will be significant to decide the fate of these 27 amendments brought by coalition government led by the PML-N.

Senior lawyers believe that the SC may examine whether parliament has the authority to give effect of these amendments from 1985. Likewise, they say that the meaning given to benami could also be examined.

Advocate Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar stated that despite the fact that the president returned the bill, amending the NAO, 1999 (XVIII of 1999), it was again passed by parliament in a joint session under Article 75 (2) of the Constitution with majority and after its presentation again to the president, he shall give his assent within 10 days, failing which such assent shall be deemed to have been given.

He said that 28 amendments have been made in the NAO which almost touched all important sections of NAB law and some are very important which include the definition of certain clauses of NAB sections, appointment and tenure of the NAB chairman, jurisdiction and cognisance of NAB, role of prosecutor general, case management and trial of offences, arrest, investigation, inquiry and remand of accused, tender of pardon, approval of the State Bank of Pakistan in banking matters and restriction on issuance of public statements and many others.

Khokhar further said that there is no doubt that there has been consistent demand from various quarters, including all political parties, and there has been some observations and judgments of superior courts regarding NAB’s working and prosecution.

According to a legal expert, parliament tried to address many issues through these amendments relating to NAB’s working and prosecution, adding that certainly there are some good amendments also. He said some of them include appointment and tenure of NAB chairman, jurisdiction and cognisance of NAB, role of NAB prosecutor general, case management and trial of offences, arrest, investigation, inquiry and remand of accused, tender of pardon, willful default, approval of the SBP in banking matters, tenure security of accountability court judge, quantum of offence for public at large and restriction on issuance of public statements, bail-granting power to accountability court and filing of appeal mechanism against accountability court judgment. One the main amendments, he said, is if the accused has been acquitted by the court on the ground that the case was initiated with mala fide intention or based on false or fabricated evidence, the person responsible shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine.

However, according to him, there are some amendments introduced in the current NAB law which might receive great difference of opinions from various quarters and can have a chance of being challenged in constitutional courts for their final determination that the proposed amended act shall come into force at once and shall be deemed to have taken effect on and from commencement of the NAO, 1999, the definitions and application of corruption and corrupt practices and the applicability of the definition of Benamidar and that that the convict shall be entitled to benefit under Section 382-B of the Code.

Khokhar said it was also important for the future credibility of NAB as an institution that some amendments be introduced that NAB should act as a commission and not under the authority of one man and work vigorously as well as with a group of professional experts for improving governance, rectifying systemic issues which are the root causes and responsible for corruption and corrupt practices like other similar agencies do in the world.

Express Tribune
 
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of parliament on Wednesday decided to launch an investigation into the leaked video that allegedly showed former National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal in clandestine meetings with a woman.

The PAC meeting, presided over by Noor Alam Khan, and also attended by Senator Talha Mehmood, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Shahida Akhtar Ali, Sheikh Rohail Asghar, Wajiha Qamar, Syed Hussain Tariq and others, also issued directions for the ban on new gas connections to be lifted immediately.

Petroleum Secretary Ali Raza Bhatta, PSO Managing Director Syed Taha and others attended the meeting as well.

The PAC chairman Noor directed to issue red warrants for three senior officers, including a former managing director of the PSI, who fled abroad after “defrauding” billions of rupees in the petroleum sector.

Noor noted that the government should appoint local officers to important companies so that they may not escape and usurp everything because of their foreign citizenship.

The meeting discussed the audit paras of the energy ministry and Petroleum Division for the year 2019-20.

A letter was written by Tayyaba Gul demanding action against the former NAB chairman as well as the director general of the anti-graft body Saleem Shehzad, alleging that they had harassed her. The PAC chairman handed over the letter to the media. It was indicated that the ex-NAB chairman and Tayyaba might be summoned to the PAC.

Rohail Asghar noted that crude oil was imported from Saudi Arabia and the Saudi International Bank charged up to 5% interest for opening letters of credit (LCs).

Rohail also predicted that in the next four to five days, there will be a major oil crisis which was not being imported. The petroleum secretary ruled out the possibility of such a crisis occurring.

The issue of Rs56 billion contractual agreement that was not met on the supply of petrol and diesel by the PSO was also discussed in the meeting.

The PAC chairman sought details of high-ranking officials with dual citizenship.

He added that the record of these officials must be checked thoroughly and handed over to NAB.

Senator Shibli Faraz claimed that the previous PTI regime had initiated talks with Russia for the import of cheap oil.

The PAC chairman noted that it was a matter of great significance and if any documents were signed for the purpose they should be brought to the fore.

He also said wherever in the country gas pipelines had been laid, the residents should be provided with new connections.

The petroleum secretary replied that there was no money for searching new gas reserves and the circular debt had already hit Rs1.5 trillion.

On the issue of delay in setting up a gas processing facility, the Federal Investigation Agency told the body that Syed Wamiq Bokhari was the managing director of the Pakistan Petroleum Limited and now he had gone abroad.

The PAC chairman noted that someone who had caused damage to the national exchequer should be issued a red warrant. “An FIR should be registered against this person.”

Express Tribune
 
Former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan on Saturday approached the Supreme Court to challenge the coalition government's recent amendments to the National Account*ability (NAB) Ordinance, contending that they will "virtually eliminate any white-collar crime committed by a public office holder".

The changes were criticised by Imran and his party, with the PTI chairman saying the move would destroy the country. The ruling coalition, however, contended that graft cases against the PML-N leadership would continue, with Shahid Khaqan Abbasi saying it was not intended to end corruption cases against them.

The bill, along with the one on election reforms, was passed by the National Assembly and Senate last month. After its approval from both houses, the president's assent was required for it to become law.

However, Alvi sent back the bills, following which the government convened a joint sitting of the NA and Senate, which approved them. Alvi again refused to sign them, terming them "regressive", and sent them back. But procedurally, 10 days after a joint sitting passes a bill, it is considered law even if the president refuses assent.

In the petition filed today, the ex-premier named the Federation of Pakistan through its secretary Law and Justice Division and the NAB through its chairman as respondents in the case.

In his petition, Imran requested the court to adjudicate upon questions of "great public importance" with reference to the enforcement of fundamental rights of citizens under articles 9 (security of a person), 14 (inviolability of dignity of a man, etc), 19A (right to information), 24 (protection of property rights) and 25 (equality of citizens) of the Constitution.

Most of the amendments brought into NAB, he argued, were person-specific. "As such, it is just and fair to protect the constitutional and fundamental rights of the citizens of Pakistan.

"The NAB may be asked to provide details of all such cases which relate to the prominent and influential holders of public office, specially regarding cases pertaining to offences of owning assets (movable and immovable) without means," the petition stated.

It added that the amendment hands over the president's right to appoint the body's chairman to the government which will "maneuver by the bulk of the holders of public office to assume control over and influence the impartiality of the NAB chairman."

Imran further said: "The accountability of political actions takes place at the time of elections, and is dependent upon laws that ensure free and fair elections; accountability for legal or administrative actions is available to the people by way of judicial review, and is dependent upon the existence of a free, fair and independent judiciary; while accountability for the functions discharged by the elected representatives of the people in their fiduciary capacity, which, as a matter of fact, permeates all categories, is possible only where law specifically provides for such accountability.

"The removal of hurdles in the normal time-tested and universally adopted methods of proving these “white collar crimes”, reducing the efficacy, transparency, and fairness of these laws coupled with a free and independent judiciary, and freedom of the investigators and the prosecutors from the influence and interference of those very chosen representatives whose alleged corruption and corrupt practices they are tasked to investigate and prosecute."

He cautioned that making accountability law "weak and ineffectual" was a severe breach of the Constitution and underscored that the people of Pakistan had the right to hold their elected representatives accountable for their fiduciary actions.

NAB amendment

The NAB (Second Amendment) Bill 2021 states that NAB's deputy chairman, to be appointed by the federal government, would become the acting chairman of the bureau following the completion of the tenure of the chairman.

The bill has also reduced the four-year term of the NAB chairman and the bureau's prosecutor general to three years. After approval of the law, NAB will not be able to act on federal, provincial or local tax matters. Moreover, the regulatory bodies functioning in the country have also been placed out of NAB's domain.

It says that "all pending inquiries, investigations, trials or proceedings under this ordinance, relating to persons or transactions … shall stand transferred to the concerned authorities, departments and courts under the respective laws."

It has also set a three-year term for the judges of the accountability courts. It will also make it binding upon the courts to decide a case within one year. Under the proposed law, it has been made binding upon NAB to ensure the availability of evidence against an accused prior to his or her arrest.

According to one of the key amendments, the act "shall be deemed to have taken effect on and from the commencement of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999".

https://www.dawn.com/news/1696656/imran-khan-challenges-nab-law-amendment-in-supreme-court
 
The federal cabinet on Monday approved drastic changes in the accountability laws and put a limit on the jurisdictions of anti-graft watchdog, barring surveillance through agencies and stripping the president of powers to appoint accountability judges.

In addition, the National Accountability (third amendment) bill, 2020, stipulates that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cannot investigate cases amounting to less than Rs500 million and defines the limit of a suspicious financial transaction while bounding the bureau to share the grounds of arrest at the time of arrest and empowers it to discharge or acquit accused at any stage.

Hence, corruption cases under Rs500m will not come under the watchdog’s ambit, if the bill is passed.

Meanwhile, in a proposed amendment to Section 19E, NAB's authority to allow surveillance with the help of a high court will be withdrawn, including any assistance from government agencies to be used against the accused in the trial.

The said section has been replaced with a new one which states that any person called to provide information in relation to an offence alleged to have been committed will be informed of the allegations against them so they can file their defence in court.

Similarly, through an amendment in Section 4, NAB will be disabled to investigate into amnesty schemes as it states that the proposed law will not apply to the “transactions or amounts duly covered by amnesty schemes of Government of Pakistan”.

Interestingly, the proposed bill also states that the accused cannot be fined anymore as Section 11, which deals with the imposition of fines, has been omitted. Existing Section 11 states: “where an accused found guilty of an offence is sentenced to pay a fine, the amount of the fine shall in no case be less than the gain derived by the accused or any relative or associate by the commission of the offence.”

Amendments in Section 16 reveal that “notwithstanding anything contained in this section, an accused shall be tried for an offence under this Ordinance in the Court in whose territorial jurisdiction the offence alleged to have been committed”.Newly added section 16A (d) says that it applies to Islamabad just like any other province; meaning cases can be transferred from the capital to provinces as well.

Apart from defining jurisdiction, the filing of the supplementary reference has been linked with new facts and the court’s permission. It says that “NAB shall file the reference after the investigation is fully completed, which shall be treated as the final reference, and no supplementary reference shall be filed thereafter unless investigation reveals new facts and with the permission of the court.”

Read SC registrar returns PTI plea against NAB law tweaks

Similarly, banks or financial institutions shall be obliged to certify the copies of books, ledgers, cash books, and transactions in accordance with the law with regard to the subject inquiry or investigation.

Furthermore, the anti-graft watchdog’s powers to seek the aid and assistance of any government agencies will be stripped as the text of Section 19(e) has been replaced with the new one, omitting the same.

Under Section 20, the limit for reporting suspicious financial transactions has been set at Rs2 million. “For the purpose of this section, a transaction in cash over two million Rupees shall be considered as an unusual or large transaction,” reads the explanation.

A proposed amendment in Section 24 bounds NAB to inform the holder of a public office or any other person “at the time of arrest” about the grounds and substance on the basis of which he has been arrested. The existing section allowed NAB to inform the accused about grounds for arrest “as soon as may be”.

Meanwhile, Section 25 states that the statement of an accused entering into a plea bargain or voluntarily return shall not prejudice the case of any other accused. Failure of the accused to make payment in accordance with the plea bargain agreement approved by the court shall become inoperative with the rights of the parties.

The time limit of one month for NAB to submit the amount deposited by the accused to the federal government has been lifted in the proposed bill. Secrecy of documents has been protected under proposed Section 27 as it says “except to seek information, document or assistance the secrecy of which is protected under the law”.

Surprisingly, there will not be any punishment for absconding to avoid service of warrants under Section 31A as it has been proposed to be omitted. If passed, there will also be no more proclamation for person absconding or attachment of property of person absconding under Section 87 and 88 of the Criminal Procedure Code as it has been omitted in the proposed bill.

In an amendment to Section 31B, the chairman's powers to terminate cases and pending proceedings were further extended, including withdrawal of cases both partly or wholly, but subject to certain conditions if such proceedings are unjustified prior to the filing of reference, after the filing, before the charge is framed or after the charge is framed.

The accused can be discharged or acquitted in respect of such offence or offences.

Another proposed amendment will strip the president of his authority to appoint judges of accountability courts in consultation with high court chief justices. That privilege will instead reside with the federal government.

Express Tribune
 
MenInG said:
The federal cabinet on Monday approved drastic changes in the accountability laws and put a limit on the jurisdictions of anti-graft watchdog, barring surveillance through agencies and stripping the president of powers to appoint accountability judges.

In addition, the National Accountability (third amendment) bill, 2020, stipulates that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cannot investigate cases amounting to less than Rs500 million and defines the limit of a suspicious financial transaction while bounding the bureau to share the grounds of arrest at the time of arrest and empowers it to discharge or acquit accused at any stage.

Hence, corruption cases under Rs500m will not come under the watchdog’s ambit, if the bill is passed.

Meanwhile, in a proposed amendment to Section 19E, NAB's authority to allow surveillance with the help of a high court will be withdrawn, including any assistance from government agencies to be used against the accused in the trial.

The said section has been replaced with a new one which states that any person called to provide information in relation to an offence alleged to have been committed will be informed of the allegations against them so they can file their defence in court.

Similarly, through an amendment in Section 4, NAB will be disabled to investigate into amnesty schemes as it states that the proposed law will not apply to the “transactions or amounts duly covered by amnesty schemes of Government of Pakistan”.

Interestingly, the proposed bill also states that the accused cannot be fined anymore as Section 11, which deals with the imposition of fines, has been omitted. Existing Section 11 states: “where an accused found guilty of an offence is sentenced to pay a fine, the amount of the fine shall in no case be less than the gain derived by the accused or any relative or associate by the commission of the offence.”

Amendments in Section 16 reveal that “notwithstanding anything contained in this section, an accused shall be tried for an offence under this Ordinance in the Court in whose territorial jurisdiction the offence alleged to have been committed”.Newly added section 16A (d) says that it applies to Islamabad just like any other province; meaning cases can be transferred from the capital to provinces as well.

Apart from defining jurisdiction, the filing of the supplementary reference has been linked with new facts and the court’s permission. It says that “NAB shall file the reference after the investigation is fully completed, which shall be treated as the final reference, and no supplementary reference shall be filed thereafter unless investigation reveals new facts and with the permission of the court.”

Read SC registrar returns PTI plea against NAB law tweaks

Similarly, banks or financial institutions shall be obliged to certify the copies of books, ledgers, cash books, and transactions in accordance with the law with regard to the subject inquiry or investigation.

Furthermore, the anti-graft watchdog’s powers to seek the aid and assistance of any government agencies will be stripped as the text of Section 19(e) has been replaced with the new one, omitting the same.

Under Section 20, the limit for reporting suspicious financial transactions has been set at Rs2 million. “For the purpose of this section, a transaction in cash over two million Rupees shall be considered as an unusual or large transaction,” reads the explanation.

A proposed amendment in Section 24 bounds NAB to inform the holder of a public office or any other person “at the time of arrest” about the grounds and substance on the basis of which he has been arrested. The existing section allowed NAB to inform the accused about grounds for arrest “as soon as may be”.

Meanwhile, Section 25 states that the statement of an accused entering into a plea bargain or voluntarily return shall not prejudice the case of any other accused. Failure of the accused to make payment in accordance with the plea bargain agreement approved by the court shall become inoperative with the rights of the parties.

The time limit of one month for NAB to submit the amount deposited by the accused to the federal government has been lifted in the proposed bill. Secrecy of documents has been protected under proposed Section 27 as it says “except to seek information, document or assistance the secrecy of which is protected under the law”.

Surprisingly, there will not be any punishment for absconding to avoid service of warrants under Section 31A as it has been proposed to be omitted. If passed, there will also be no more proclamation for person absconding or attachment of property of person absconding under Section 87 and 88 of the Criminal Procedure Code as it has been omitted in the proposed bill.

In an amendment to Section 31B, the chairman's powers to terminate cases and pending proceedings were further extended, including withdrawal of cases both partly or wholly, but subject to certain conditions if such proceedings are unjustified prior to the filing of reference, after the filing, before the charge is framed or after the charge is framed.

The accused can be discharged or acquitted in respect of such offence or offences.

Another proposed amendment will strip the president of his authority to appoint judges of accountability courts in consultation with high court chief justices. That privilege will instead reside with the federal government.

Express Tribune
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This is the level of these crooks. What an utter shambles
So steal 50 crore and no problem- steal 50rps to feed the family- Your going down. This NRO 2 given by Bajwa is an absolute disgrace. Some how we never learn from History
 
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Accepting an appeal against registrar office objections, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the appeal of former prime minister Imran Khan to be fixed for hearing on Wednesday (today).

Supreme Court Justice Ijazul Ahsan will hear the PTI chief’s appeal in chamber against the refusal by the registrar’s office to entertain his constitution petition challenging recent amendments to the country’s accountability law.

Imran, through his counsel Khawaja Haris, had filed an appeal in the chamber against the registrar's office’s objections, contending that it was not for the registrar to decide whether on the basis of the pleadings made and grounds urged in the constitution petition, the “ingredients” for invoking extraordinary jurisdiction of this court were “satisfied” or not.

Earlier, the apex court’s registrar’s office had raised five objections against the PTI’s petition and stated that the petitioner had not highlighted what matters of public importance were involved in the enforcement of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution so as to directly invoke the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Article 184(3).

“The ingredients for involving extraordinary jurisdiction of this court under Article 184(3) of the Constitution have not been satisfied,” a statement issued by the office read.

The top court registrar’s office also objected that the petitioner had not approached the appropriate forum available under the law besides not providing any justification for not doing so.

It was further pointed out that the advocate-on-record (AOR) had not provided a certificate as required under Rule 6 of Order XXV of the Supreme Court Rules, 1980.

Ex-PM Imran had argued that tweaks to the ordinance would pave way for public office-holders to get away with white-collar crimes. The constitutional petition was filed under Article 184(3) through lawyer Khawaja Haris, the counsel for PML-N supremo and former premier Nawaz Sharif in the Panamagate case.

Challenging the objections on Monday, the PTI in its appeal argued that the grounds raised in the instant constitution petition are akin and similar to the grounds on the basis of which suo motu cognizance has already been taken by this court in suo motu previously.

"Prima facie violation of Article 10A, 25 and 4 of the Constitution in that the subject-matter of the instant case too is the gross undermining of the criminal justice system (qua white-collar crime) by persons in authority (i.e. holders of public office) in relation to offences of corruption and corrupt practices pending at various stages under the NAO, 1999.”

In this respect it is pertinent to note that the fact that such amendments in the accountability laws as form the basis of the constitution petition are indeed violative of the fundamental rights of the “society as a whole” is also evident from the reason forming basis of this court’s suo motu notice, as specified, inter alia, in the press release on May 18, the appeal read.

The appeal further contended that the satisfaction of the “ingredients for invoking the extraordinary jurisdiction of this court under Article 184(3) of the Constitution” is further spelt out by the fact that all the grounds pleaded and questions of law raised in the appellant’s constitution petition are inextricably linked to safeguarding the economic life of the nation and its citizens which, as held repeatedly by this court, is a part of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 9, 14, 23, 24 and 25 of the Constitution.

It also stated that whether such a question is involved and merits adjudication by this court is, as per the express words employed in Article 184(3), to be considered and decided by this court, and not the registrar.

The appeal prayed the SC to set aside the registrar order and direct to assign a number to the constitution petition and fix it for hearing before a bench.

Express Tribune
 
The Supreme Court (SC) set aside on Wednesday the objections raised by the registrar on former premier Imran Khan’s petition against the recent amendments made to the country’s accountability law.

Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan of the apex court resumed the in-chamber hearing of the PTI chief's appeal against the objections raised by the registrar’s office.

Imran Khan’s counsel Khawaja Haris appeared before the court. The judge overruled the objections after hearing the arguments, and ordered to number the petiion and fix it for hearing in open court.

Earlier, the apex court’s registrar office had raised five objections against the PTI’s petition and stated that the petitioner had not highlighted what matters of public importance were involved in the enforcement of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution so as to directly invoke the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Article 184(3).

“The ingredients for involving extraordinary jurisdiction of this court under Article 184(3) of the Constitution have not been satisfied,” a statement issued by the office read.

Subsequently, Imran filed an appeal in the chamber against the office’s objections, contending that it was not for the registrar to decide whether on the basis of the pleadings made and grounds urged in the constitution petition, the “ingredients” for invoking extraordinary jurisdiction of this court were “satisfied” or not.

Later, the SC had accepted the appeal and fixed it for hearing on Wednesday (today).

Express Tribune
 
Victim lifts lid on former NAB chief’s ‘sleazy conduct’
PAC recommends PM sack Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal as head of panel on missing persons

ISLAMABAD:
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman Noor Alam Khan urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday to remove or suspend Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal as head of the commission on missing persons, following allegations he harassed innocent women.

Iqbal, who also served as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman, was summoned to appear before PAC on Thursday. He, however, sent a letter to the committee, saying he would come after Eidul Azha. The chair said that arrest warrant would be issued if Iqbal skipped the next meeting.

During the meeting, PAC heard from Tayyaba Gull, whose controversial video with the former NAB chairman had surfaced in 2019. In her statement, she alleged that NAB officials stripped her naked, made videos and filed cases, when she refused to comply with Iqbal’s “demands”.

Gull alleged before PAC that NAB Director General Shahzad Saleem along with others installed cameras in a room at the bureau’s Lahore Office, stripped her naked and made videos that were later shown to her husband for mentally torturing him, when he was in custody in ‘fake’ cases.

“I was stripped naked and videos were made,” Gull sobbed. Her throat felt swollen and she stuttered before adding: “I was taken to a room, cameras were installed, officials conducted frisking, stripped me naked, laughed at me and my videos were made.”

When asked by the PAC Chairman who did it, Gull named NAB DG Shahzad Saleem, Kashif Masroor, Imran Dogar and several others. Despite a court order, she said, her medical test was not conducted, adding that her signatures were taken on a blank paper, whose content later stated that she didn’t want medical examination.

The PAC chairman, who ensured that incumbent NAB Chairman Zahir Shah stayed in the meeting while Gull recorded statement, ordered suspension of officials named in her statement until an inquiry was completed. He directed Shah to collect evidence and lodge first information reports (FIRs) as such a brutality and criminality couldn’t be tolerated.

Khan said that he would urge the prime minister to suspend or remove Iqbal as head of the commission on missing persons, especially, after human rights activist Amna Masood Janjua accused Iqbal of using sexist remarks against a woman whose husband had gone missing.

Gull further alleged that NAB officials arrested her husband, Muhammad Farooq, before arresting her from Gulberg Green, Islamabad, where she was asked to come at midnight to take her husband home.

The harassment victim was called to record her statement before the highest accountability forum of parliament in response to a letter she had written earlier, seeking investigation against all those NAB officials, who had misused the office and acted unlawfully “to take revenge from her” for refusing to comply with Iqbal’s demands.

Iqbal, who was also summoned, didn’t appear before PAC and instead sent a letter, stating that he would come after Eid. This irked Khan, who announced that arrest warrant would be issued if Iqbal doesn’t appear before PAC the next time.

Gull, with tears rolling down her cheeks, said that she couldn’t even narrate the “brutality” she was subjected to while being taken to Lahore from Islamabad. She added that her condition was miserable, as her clothes were torn and bruises were all over her body when she reached NAB’s Lahore Office.

To another question from the chair as to how did it all start, Gull recalled that she along with her husband had appeared before the commission for the missing persons as an aunt of her husband had gone missing.

She alleged that Iqbal took her number from the application, started making phone calls, and kept asking her to meet him at the commission’s office as he couldn’t meet her at NAB office.

Gull alleged that Iqbal would force her to the extent that hearing of the missing aunt’s case would only take place if she would come. He used to give short dates of the case, she alleged.

“I can destroy your life in a second,” Gull quoted Iqbal as telling her when she refused to meet him. She said that he even threatened to cut her into pieces. “I was arrested two days after that,” she added.

In addition, Gull revealed before PAC that Azam Khan, who was the principal secretary to former prime minister Imran Khan, met her after she lodged complaint at the Citizen Portal. She was then asked to share the evidence with a man, Tahir A Khan, who later ran videos of her with NAB chairman on a television channel.

“Who was the beneficiary of the videos for three years,” she questioned, wondering why no action was taken against Iqbal and how the NAB DG was still serving in the post.

To this, the PAC chairman assured that all the accused would face investigation and that he would write to the prime minister and the chief justice of Pakistan. But before that, he stressed, it was important to hear what Iqbal had to say in response to the allegations.

The victim told PAC that she recorded audio calls and videos of NAB chairman to expose him as there was no other way to show the world what a retired judge and the head of a watchdog and commission was up to, while allegedly misusing his powers and labelling the couple as ‘blackmailers’.

She also told PAC that audio and video evidence of harassment was available with her. She also told the lawmakers that roughly 40 FIRs were registered in addition to NAB references against the couple. Some of the evidence was shown on the screen during PAC meeting.

Gull said that NAB spokesperson, Nawazish Sial, had later told her that her video made at NAB’s Lahore Office was deleted and the bureau’s former chairman and incumbent DG wanted to reach a compromise for whatever happened to her.

Alleging that Iqbal’s personal secretary at the commission works as “facilitator”, she urged PAC to help her get justice as the couple faced “unbearable” torture and sufferings at the hands of NAB officials.

Noor Alam Khan assured her that he would ensure justice in the case, adding that he would call the NAB and police officials as the “misuse of authority” was evident. He further said that PAC would hear Iqbal after Eid before moving ahead.

Meanwhile, the PAC chairman directed NAB, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) to conduct an inquiry within a month into the alleged embezzlement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) funds allocated for the tribal areas.

Senator Hilalur Rehman from the former Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) filed an application before PAC, saying that no development work had taken place, yet millions of rupees were paid.

He said that the record showed that in one instance 844 kilometre pipeline was laid in just one day. Khan ordered for freezing the accounts, saying that the amount would be recovered if the inquiry findings seconded Rehman’s allegations.

The PAC chairman also directed NAB chairman to file a reference pertaining to Malam Jabba scandal and reopen investigations into the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), the Billion Tree Tsunami and the Bank of Khyber scandals.

Express Tribune
 
The Supreme Court on Tuesday, while issuing notices to the federation, law secretary, attorney general and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with PTI Chairman Imran Khan's application challenging the amendments to the NAB Ordinance, asked the party why it did not raise its objections in parliament.

A three-member bench, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, heard the petition.

It asked PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi why his party did not raise its objections when the bill was passed, with the chief justice remarking that there was "no alternative" to parliament.

'Fundamental rights'
At the outset of the hearing, the chief justice asked Imran's lawyer Khawaja Haris whether the amendments to the ordinance were supported by judgements. Haris replied that they were in contradiction to Supreme Court judgements, not in line with them.

Justice Ahsan observed that "many" amendment bills were passed in haste.

Haris said the court would have to consider the United Nations Convention against Corruption while hearing the case.

"Majority of the cases are related to the misuse of power or assets beyond means," he told the court, adding that after the amendments, a case cannot be made unless the person in authority himself benefits in some way.

At this, Justice Shah asked whether lawmakers should not be allowed to use their privileges. "If parliament declares tomorrow that murder is not a crime, will it be allowed?" questioned Haris in return.

Justice Shah then asked whether the court could overturn the law should parliament abolish the death penalty to which Haris replied that it was a different matter.

"When the matter is related to corruption and the national treasury, it becomes a question of fundamental rights. If a patwari steals someone's money, action is taken against him. Should action not be taken against a powerful man?" the counsel asked.

Chief Justice Bandial pointed out that the amendments had not abolished the misuse of authority from the list of crimes. He then asked Haris to inform the court first of the amendments which he believed to be in violation of fundamental rights.

"Can the legislative powers of the parliament not be reviewed by the courts? Can a law benefitting certain people not be challenged?" asked Justice Ahsan.

He observed that retroactive application of the amendments to cases dating back to 1985 would mean they would all be disposed of.

Haris argued that it was the public's right to ensure that their representatives did not misuse their authority. "Misuse of authority is [still] a crime but it has been made impossible to prove it."

Accountability courts could no longer accept information received from foreign countries as evidence, he said.

Haris argued that all cases related to fake accounts would end after the amendments.

Qureshi addresses court
During the hearing, the chief justice also asked PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi to come to the stand.

Justice Bandial asked Qureshi to "think of the country, the nation and the Constitution".

"Democracy will function only when the parliament is functional. Your counsel has raised very good points." He asked, however, why the parliament could not debate those points.

Justice Ahsan also told Qureshi to raise the matter in parliament as people's representatives.

"The people's trust in you is not being fulfilled," Justice Shah observed.

When Qureshi said the amendments were discussed in a parliamentary committee meeting for several hours, Justice Ahsan said the former minister was perhaps talking of events prior to the ouster of the PTI government.

He further said that only President Arif Alvi had offered "token resistance" by not approving the bill.

The changes to the NAB law amendment ordinance were criticised by Imran and his party, with the PTI chairman saying the move would destroy the country. The ruling coalition, however, contended that graft cases against the PML-N leadership would continue, with Shahid Khaqan Abbasi saying it was not intended to end corruption cases against them.

The bill, along with the one on election reforms, was passed by the National Assembly and Senate in May. After its approval from both houses, the president's assent was required for it to become law.

However, Alvi sent back the bills, following which the government convened a joint sitting of the NA and Senate, which approved them. Alvi again refused to sign them, terming them "regressive", and sent them back. But procedurally, 10 days after a joint sitting passes a bill, it is considered law even if the president refuses assent.

Judges question why matter not raised in parliament
During the hearing today, Justice Shah questioned the petitioner's (Imran) right. "The petitioner walked out of parliament. He has the public's trust.

"Such serious amendments were passed by parliament. In such a situation, does the petitioner have the right to make a claim?" the judge asked.

Qureshi said that he was a member of the parliamentary committee that discussed the amendments but the chief justice asked him whether he had understood the bench's question.

"Where were you when the amendments were being passed? What are the PTI's numbers in parliament? Think about the country and the nation."

The CJP said he was aware the common man was affected by the cases heard by the apex court.

"The bill was passed without any hindrance," he pointed out, while Justice Ahsan said the arguments should have been raised in parliament.

Justice Shah also observed that parliament was the relevant forum to discuss the matter. "How did you become the affected party after exiting it and coming to the court?"

Qureshi responded that the PML-N had the majority and even if the PTI had opposed it, the bill would have been bulldozed through parliament.

The CJP said a recommendation was "hidden" in the bench's questions and the PTI should consider it for the people's sake.

"There is no alternative forum of the parliament.

"The staff-level agreement with the IMF (International Monetary Fund) has been done but it is not being accepted by the public. The currency is fluctuating every day," the chief justice observed.

The PTI requested the bench to link "benefits given to suspects [in accountability cases] under the amendments to court orders" — a move opposed by Additional Attorney General Amir Rehman.

Justice Ahsan asked why the government would have a problem if relief was linked to court decisions. Justice Shah pointed out that if the amendments were declared illegal, any benefit would be reversed.

"Legal action will be started if benefits are reversed," Justice Ahsan observed.

However, the additional attorney general informed the SC that the amendments had already been challenged in the Islamabad High Court and it would be appropriate to allow the high court to announce its verdict first.

Subsequently, the court issued notices to the federation, the law secretary, the attorney general and the NAB. It also asked the PTI vice-chairman to inform the court in a written response why his party did not raise objections when the amendments were passed.

The hearing was adjourned till 11am on July 29.

Imran's application
In his petition, the ex-premier named the Federation of Pakistan through its secretary Law and Justice Division and the NAB through its chairman as respondents in the case.

Imran requested the court to adjudicate upon questions of "great public importance" with reference to the enforcement of fundamental rights of citizens under articles 9 (security of a person), 14 (inviolability of dignity of a man, etc), 19A (right to information), 24 (protection of property rights) and 25 (equality of citizens) of the Constitution.

Most of the amendments brought into NAB, he argued, were person-specific. "As such, it is just and fair to protect the constitutional and fundamental rights of the citizens of Pakistan."

The petition added that the amendment hands over the president's right to appoint the body's chairman to the government which will "maneuver by the bulk of the holders of public office to assume control over and influence the impartiality of the NAB chairman."

"The removal of hurdles in the normal time-tested and universally adopted methods of proving 'white collar crimes', reducing the efficacy, transparency, and fairness of these laws coupled with a free and independent judiciary, and freedom of the investigators and the prosecutors from the influence and interference of those very chosen representatives whose alleged corruption and corrupt practices they are tasked to investigate and prosecute."

He cautioned that making accountability law "weak and ineffectual" was a severe breach of the Constitution and underscored that the people of Pakistan had the right to hold their elected representatives accountable for their fiduciary actions.

NAB law amendment
The NAB (Second Amendment) Bill 2021 states that NAB's deputy chairman, to be appointed by the federal government, would become the acting chairman of the bureau following the completion of the tenure of the chairman.

The bill has also reduced the four-year term of the NAB chairman and the bureau's prosecutor general to three years. After approval of the law, NAB will not be able to act on federal, provincial or local tax matters. Moreover, the regulatory bodies functioning in the country have also been placed out of NAB's domain.

It says that "all pending inquiries, investigations, trials or proceedings under this ordinance, relating to persons or transactions … shall stand transferred to the concerned authorities, departments and courts under the respective laws."

It has also set a three-year term for the judges of the accountability courts. It will also make it binding upon the courts to decide a case within one year. Under the proposed law, it has been made binding upon NAB to ensure the availability of evidence against an accused prior to his or her arrest.

According to one of the key amendments, the act "shall be deemed to have taken effect on and from the commencement of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999".

DAWN
 
PAC summons NAB top officials today
Committee irked by anti-graft body’s acting chairman moving IHC against its notice

ISLAMABAD:
The ongoing tussle between the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday worsened when the chairman of the former expressed his displeasure over the latter challenging its mandate in the Islamabad High Court.

During a meeting of the PAC, its chairman Noor Alam Khan while hinting at taking action under Article 6 against those NAB officials who had not declared their assets or presented the record of closed cases, issued notices to the anti-graft body’s acting Chairman Zahir Shah and Lahore Director General Shahzad Saleem to appear before it on Wednesday (today) at 1pm. He also directed that if they did not appear before the committee, police should take them into custody and present them before the body.

Earlier in the day, the NAB acting chairman moved the IHC against the PAC, arguing that the committee issuing notices was beyond its jurisdiction.

The PAC chairman remarked that if the accountability courts considered the public spending watchdog to be an ineffective body, it should tell the parliamentary committees to wrap up and go home, adding that NAB officials were trying to evade accountability.

He also said the PAC would take action against the NAB acting chairman and Lahore DG under Article 201 of the Constitution.

Article 201 reads: Subject to Article 189, any decision of a High Court shall, to the extent that it decides a question of law or is based upon or enunciates a principle of law, be binding on all courts subordinate to it.”

The PAC chairman noted that the NAB Lahore DG had sent a letter to the PAC over the case of a woman named Tayyaba Gul, who had accused the former chairman of the anti-graft body, Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal and other officials of harassment and also presented video evidence.

He added that the matter was related to corruption and he would summon all the NAB officials involved in it.

“I can’t understand why NAB officials are trying to run away from accountability?” he questioned.

Noor observed that the PAC had no personal grudge against anyone but it would take action against any public-office holder involved in corrupt practices.

“The PAC can hear public petitions under Article 201,” he added.

PAC member Sheikh Rohail Asghar from the PML-N said during the meeting that the committee could listen to matters pertaining to corruption but the background of the Tayyaba case also needed to be taken into account.

“it needs to be asertained whether that woman and her husband are involved in corruption or not. It’s easy to taint a person’s reputation,” he added.

The issue related to the sports channel of a private TV media group was highlighted by the committee member Wajiha Qamar in the committee.

The information secretary told the PAC that a fact-finding committee was formed on the matter of PTV sports channel.

On the findings of that committee, the matter was sent to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). Wajiha would be provided with the details of how the copyrights of the PTV were given to a private channel. A report has been requested from the auditor general of Pakistan in two days.

Noor noted that irregularities had been identified in this matter and the inquiry report of the fact-finding committee should be submitted to PAC.

Earlier, the NAB acting chairman had moved the IHC against the PAC, clsim7ng that the committee was acting beyond its jurisdiction.

The petitioner made the NA parliamentary affairs secretary, PAC chairman and others as respondents in his plea.

The IHC registrar fixed the acting chairman’s petition for hearing on Wednesday, despite objections. A single-member IHC bench headed by acting IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq will hear the case.

The petitioner said the PAC had exceeded its jurisdiction in its meeting on June 24 and requested the court to declare the minutes of the committee’s meeting released on July 7 as null and void.

The petitioner also asked the court to restrain the PAC from any action against him until the court gave a verdict in the case.

Earlier, the NAB Lahore DG had also challenged the notice issued to him by the PAC in the Tayabba harassment case before the IHC.

The official had made the federation, PAC, and others as respondents in his plea.

The petitioner had contended that the PAC was exceeding its jurisdiction. He had maintained that the PAC did not enjoy any sort of jurisdiction in this particular case.

The petitioner had claimed his summoning along with the ex-NAB chairman raised a lot of questions about the PAC chairman’s impartiality.

“It cannot be ruled out either that the committee chairman member of the National Assembly (MNA) Noor Alam Khan might have himself asked the woman to file the complaint against me and the ex-NAB chairman only for his own vested interest because he is already facing an inquiry by the bureau,” the petition had read.

Tayabba has sought permission to become a respondent in the petition filed by the NAB Lahore DG against the notice issued by the PAC.

Express Tribune
 
Supreme Court's Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on Friday observed that there is a SC judgment behind every recent amendment in the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999 as he asked Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s counsel Khawaja Haris to explain how the amendments are unconstitutional.

The three-judge special bench of the apex court led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial heard a petition in Islamabad against the recent changes to the country’s accountability law passed by the incumbent government, as it issued notices over Imran’s plea for staying the operation of the amendments.

Earlier, Khawaja Haris had requested the court to declare the amendment “null and void” under the premise that it was in “conflict” with the Constitution.

“A constitutional amendment against its structure is not possible,” argued the PTI leader’s lawyer.

To this, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah responded that “the Constitution has no basic structure”, and added that “the parliament has the authority to change the entire Constitution”.

The judge also questioned that “if the government had abolished the NAB law, what would be the basis of your request?”

“Accountability is emphasised in both Islam and the Constitution,” responded Haris.

Justice Shah retorted, "if you depend on Islam, why don't you challenge the NAB amendments in the Shariat Court?” He also stated that “a petition against the NAB amendments is also under hearing in the Islamabad High Court, would it not be appropriate to let the High Court decide first?”

The lawyer argued that the amendments affected the country and were of grave significance. Upon this, the judge said, “your job is to tell us which amendment is against fundamental rights and the Constitution”.

The CJP further ordered the lawyer to present his “arguments in detail as to how the amendments conflict with the Constitution” and to “point out which fundamental rights of the people are being affected. Also tell us which amendments are affecting the NAB law and cases”.

It may be noted that ex-premier Imran had argued that tweaks to the ordinance would pave way for public office-holders to get away with white-collar crimes.

The constitutional petition was filed under Article 184(3) through lawyer Khawaja Haris, the counsel for PML-N supremo and former premier Nawaz Sharif in the Panamagate case.

Express Tribune
 
The National Assembly (NA) has passed the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Act, 2022 with a majority vote, amending theNational Accountability Ordinance, 1999 (NAO), ARY News reported on Wednesday.

State Minister for Law and Justice Shahadat Awan presented the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Act, 2022, in the lower house to further amend the law regulating the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

According to the bill, the offence of corruption and corrupt practices as per the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999, will be tied to the value of Rs500m.

The bill also strip the president of his authority to appoint judges of accountability courts in consultation with high court chief justices.

“A judge shall be appointed by the federal government after consultation with the chief justice of the high court concerned,” the bill stated. As per the bill, the service tenure of Prosecutor General NAB can be extended by 3 years.

The bill also amended the Section 16 of National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 (NAO), stating that an accused will be tried for an offence under the ordinance in the court under whose territorial jurisdiction the offence was alleged to have been committed.

Meanwhile, in an amendment to Section 19E, NAB’s authority to allow surveillance with the help of a high court has been withdrawn, including any assistance from government agencies to be used against the accused in the trial.

“Any person called to provide information in relation to an offence alleged to have been committed will be informed of the allegations against them so they can file their defence in court,” the bill stated.

Moreover, Chairman NAB will now be able to recommend the termination of the reference before the indictment.

The joint session of the Parliament in June approved the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Bill, 2021.
 
PDM has legalised corruption of up to Rs 500 million. NAB cannot investigate any corruption under Rs 500 million.
 
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