Government restricts NAB powers in new amendment ordinance
Pakistan’s Law Ministry has finalized the draft of a new National Accountability Ordinance (NAB) amendment order on Wednesday.
The new draft states that the government has taken back some of NAB chairman’s authority, including unrestrained authority to issue arrest warrants, according to the reports. NAB can not designate a position as a sub-jail, however.
NAB’s jurisdiction over matters relating to tax duty curtailed and investigations and which inquiries underway will be transferred to concerned institutions.
Wife, son, brother and sister are not included in the ‘unnamed group’ and son who are themselves non-filers are only be considered dependent.
Under the amendments, the accounting office will no longer prosecute problems related to corruption that do not require a total of at least Rs1bn.
The federal cabinet also would be exempted from NAB inquiries.
The reference to the 2010 Anti Money Laundering Act will be excluded from the official NAB Ordinance schedule. The agency would also need to change policies regarding situations concerning the holders of public offices.
The body’s prosecutor general must be named by consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, the amendment says.
