In a major development, the National Assembly (NA) passed the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Act, 2022 with a majority vote, amending the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 (NAO).
Under the new amendments, the offense of corruption and corrupt practices as per the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999, will be tied to the value of Rs500m.
The bill also strips the president of his authority to appoint judges of accountability courts in consultation with high court chief justices.
The bill also amended Section 16 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 (NAO), stating that an accused will be tried for an offense under the ordinance in the court under whose territorial jurisdiction the offense was alleged to have been committed.
Read more: President refuses to sign NAB amendment bill – Again!
Meanwhile, in an amendment to Section 19E, NAB’s authority to allow surveillance with the help of a high court has been withdrawn, including any assistance from government agencies to be used against the accused in the trial.
PTI’s strong reaction to NAB amendments
According to PTI, the amendments are another attempt by the incumbent government to weaken the National Accountability Bureau. Reacting to the development, PTI leader Farrukh Habib said it is an NRO 2 plus.
While criticizing the government, Farrukh Habibhe said it is doing everything as per its liking. The Assembly has no standing, there is no opposition, no debates. They just get together and do things according to their will, the PTI leader added.
نیب 50کروڑ روپے تک کرپشن کی تحقیقات نہیں کرسکے گا، نیب کے ہاتھ پاؤں توڑ کر آنکھوں پر پٹی باندھ دی گئی، تمام چور اکٹھے ہو کر مرضی کی قانون سازی کررہے ہیں۔ عدلیہ کو نیب ترمیمی بلز پر ازخود نوٹس لینا چاہیے۔ @FarrukhHabibISF
#صادق_و_امین_عمران_خان pic.twitter.com/QTNHpQxbja
— PTI (@PTIofficial) August 3, 2022
Farrukh Habib said Pakistani courts should look into the matter, in fact, PTI has already challenged the bill in the Supreme Court, he revealed.
Earlier, PTI Chairman Imran Khan moved the apex court for a stay on implementation on recent changes through the Accountability Ordinance (amendment) bill 2022. As a result, the Supreme Court of Pakistan issued a notice to the federal government.
Read more: Aftab Sultan appointed as NAB Chairman
During the hearing, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said that the court would intervene in the Parliament’s matter when their action is against the Constitution.