The President of Pakistan has once again refused to sign the National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, claiming it is “regressive”, adding that it would promote corruption.
Pertinent to mention, the President had earlier also refused to sign a bill seeking changes in election laws by the former government led by PTI. Typically, when a bill is passed in the National Assembly, they are sent to the President for approval. If the president does not give his approval within 10 days, it will be deemed to have been given.
Read more: Questioning the authenticity of NAB
Last month, the National Assembly and the Senate passed the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2022, and NAB bills. However, the President, who is from PTI, refused to sign both the bills.
President Dr. Arif Alvi, in a series of tweets, claimed that changes in the NAB law will demolish accountability, creating injustice. Elaborating, the President said the poor will continue to be punished for petty crimes while the rich will be free to loot them.
“I personally abide by the Constitution, we must act upon injunctions of Quran and Sunnah, and above all, I am answerable to Allah asking for His forgiveness,” The President said.
“Therefore, with deep discomfort and pain, I state that my conscience does not allow me to sign this Bill,” he further added.
President has not signed the bill amending NAB Ordinance. He wrote that as conceived originally, the bill took inspiration from Hazrat Umar’s incident when asked about source of extra cloth in his cloak. The onus in financial crimes is on the accused to provide a money trail.
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) June 20, 2022
PTI observes “Black Day”
As a result of the NAB bill being enforced with effect from today, PTI leaders are observing the black day. In short, after fresh amendments, the National Accountability Bureau will have limited powers.
PTI is active and calling today a Black Day in Pakistan’s history. PTI leaders, including Chairman Imran Khan, have taken to social media to protest against the NAB amendments coming into effect today.
“Today is Black Day in Pak’s history when Imported govt of crooks amended NAB law comes in ending accountability. The entire economy and political system of Pakistan was derailed thru US-backed regime change conspiracy simply to give this cabal of crooks another NRO. PMLN’s Dastgir confirmed this,” Imran Khan tweeted.
Read more: Black Day as amended NAB law ends accountability – Imran Khan
To clarify, PML-N leader and Energy Minister Khurram Dastgir in an interview had claimed that the then Opposition ousted Imran Khan because of his plan to extend his rule by having political opponents disqualified by 2022.