Lahore: The federal government on Saturday introduced the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) (Amendment) Ordinance 2019, a news source reported. As per the publication, the new ordinance stipulates certain conditions on the bureau that are expected to protect businesspersons from any instances of future harassment.
Addressing an award distribution ceremony, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan stated that NAB’s job was to scrutinise public office holders. He added that for businesspersons, there were other institutions in place, which included the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
The amendments in the NAB Ordinance 1999 will greatly restrain the anti-graft watch dog. The new ordinance will benefit businesspersons, along with bureaucrats and politicians, who have been victims of harassment at the hands of NAB.
The business community had made frequent complaints that they hesitated from new investments as NAB didn’t allow them to function normally. Similarly, government officers had complained that they didn’t expedite certain projects fearing that NAB would scrutinise them for ignoring procedure.
The amendments to the ordinance include the following:
NAB can’t take up cases of corruption unless the value exceeds PKR 500 million
Investigations would only apply to persons and entities directly or indirectly linked to public office holders
Matters of federal or provincial taxation and levies won’t fall under NAB’s jurisdiction. Any such active inquiries would transfer to relevant departments or authorities
Active trials on matters not falling under NAB’s jurisdiction now will transfer from accountability courts to criminal courts
NAB can’t take action against procedural lapses pertaining to government projects unless it proves accused public office holders have materially benefitted beyond known income sources
NAB won’t analyse misuse of authority by a public officer holder unless there is evidence of material gain beyond known income sources
NAB won’t issue public statements during ongoing inquiries and investigations
NAB will have to file formal references within 14 days (previously 90 days)
NAB will have six months to complete an inquiry
NAB won’t be allowed to reopen an inquiry after its completion
A six-member scrutiny committee would decide if NAB can proceed against a government officer
According to a summary drafted by the Ministry of Law & Justice, the changes were required as NAB was dealing with a significant number of inquiries and investigations, along with mega corruption cases. The draft added that several of these inquiries were initiated against public office holders due to procedural lapses without evidence of actual corruption.
The draft also clarified that it was necessary to define the operational domain of NAB through these amendments, as it was currently interfering with the jurisdiction of taxation regulatory bodies.
