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ISLAMABAD – Federal Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Farogh Naseem said Wednesday that the president was the one who would appoint the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman after consultation with both, leaders of the House and Opposition in the National Assembly.
He was addressing a joint news conference along with Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain in Islamabad on Wednesday. Farogh Naseem said the government is bringing in a presidential ordinance to introduce some amendments in the NAB laws for more transparency and clarity.
The minister explained that the names of the candidates for NAB chairman would be sent to the president. “If, in case, the consultation between opposition and leader of the House turns out to be non-consensus, a parliamentary committee will be formed comprising six members from the government’s benches and six members from the opposition benches and the committee will be formed by the National Assembly speaker.”
The Law Minister said now the current and retired chairmen of NAB, with new names will be considered for their appointment as the next Chief of the anti-corruption watchdog. He said it will enhance pool for the selection of NAB chairman.
Govt bringing in a presidential ordinance to introduce some amendments in NAB laws: Farogh
He said that the current Chairman will continue to perform his duties till appointment of a regular NAB chief and he will enjoy full powers as a regular chairman can have.
Farogh Nasim said that the Supreme Judicial Council will be the forum to remove NAB chief in case of any misconduct. The Law Minister said that role of NAB Prosecutor General is being enhanced in the new ordinance to take independent opinion on a case to ensure fairness. He said the Prosecutor General will advise the NAB Chairman to continue or withdraw an investigation on substantial grounds.
Farogh Nasim said the Supreme Court had directed to enhance the number of existing NAB courts to 90 for which a large pool for selection of judges was required.
He said under the changed framework, retired district and additional district judges and serving or retired special courts judges, provided their age is less than 68 years, can be appointed as NAB courts judges in consultation of the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
Farogh Nasim said bureaucracy, private persons, and business community has been excluded from the ambit of NAB and now FBR will deal all tax related matters. He said procedural laps on part of bureaucracy, with no illegal monetary gains, have been excluded from NAB’s purview.
He said that NAB will require prior permission of the Governor of State Bank for proceeding against the decisions taken by the banks and other financial institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said the government is open to consult the opposition over the ordinance and any suggestions from the opposition members can be incorporated in the act of the parliament to be tabled at some later stage.
The Information Minister said this is the stance of Prime Minister Imran Khan from the day-one that NAB should focus on big fish and take corruption cases to their logical conclusion
Farogh said the impression that there was a difference in his stance and that of the information minister, was false. He said it was unfortunate that the opposition was doing politics on the NAB ordinance and added the president would consult the prime minister and opposition leader over the appointment.
“If no consensus is reached between them, the matter will then be sent to a parliamentary committee,” he said adding the body would be formed by the National Assembly’s speaker comprising six members each from opposition and treasury.
He said they would mull over the names of the incumbent and former NAB chairmen for the slot. Further sharing details of the NAB ordinance, Farogh Naseem said thanks to the apex court, the trial court was now given the authority to grant bail to a suspect in accountability cases. He said even people opting to voluntarily return the money would also be disqualified likewise plea bargain for any service for 10 years.
He said after consultation, a name could be agreed upon for the appointment of the NAB chairman.
He said until the new chairman was appointed, Justice [r] Javed Iqbal would continue to serve as the bureau’s chief. “Let me make it clear that he [Iqbal] will be able to exercise all the powers, functions and authorities that a normal chairman has,” he added.