Modifications to NAB laws primarily benefit the ruling class, which is a blessing in disguise.
The Supreme Court is now considering the major petition against the changes submitted by the PTI.
ISLAMABAD: According to a report that the anti-corruption agency presented to the Supreme Court, the amendments that were made to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 2000 by the PML-N-led coalition government have ended up benefitting over 90 percent of cases, including high-profile ones, that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was dealing with, whether at the inquiry, investigation, or trial stage.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NAB) has provided the apex court with a report detailing the cases of public office-holders, including political leaders, that may be impacted as a result of the recent revisions made to the NAB law.
An plea filed by PTI Chairman Imran Khan challenging the modifications to the NAB Ordinance is now being heard by a special bench of the supreme court consisting of three judges and led by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Umar Ata Bandial.
According to the research, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is the most prominent benefactor of the amendments among the other leaders of all major political parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. This is the conclusion drawn from an analysis of the amendments (PTI). The adjustments will even be beneficial to senior ministers in the federal government.
The leaders include Mian Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari, Molana Fazlur Rehman, Maryam Nawaz, Faryal Talpur, Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Rana Sanaullah, Javed Lateef, Makhdoom Khosro Bakhtiar, Amir Mehmood Kayani, Akram Durani , Saleem Mandiwala, Noor Alam Khan, Nawab Aslam Riasani, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, Barjees Tahir, Nawab Ali Wasan, Sharjeel Inaam Memom, Anwarul Haq Kakar, Liaqat Jatoi, Amir Maqam , Goram Bugti, Jaffer
While providing the details of the cases against PM Shehbaz, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) informed the Supreme Court that the case concerning the misuse of illegal allotment of 1,400 kanals of government land near Lal Suhanra National Park would be affected by recent amendment because the amount involved in this matter is less than Rs500 million. This information was provided as part of NAB’s presentation of the cases against PM Shehbaz.
Another case that accuses the prime minister and others of abusing their position would also be hampered by the fact that the amount of money at stake in the alleged scheme is less than 500 million rupees.
Thirdly, the investigation of Shehbaz Sharif and others involving the unauthorised use of the prime minister’s jet between the years of 2014 and 2018 will also be impacted by Section 5 (o) of the NAB Amendment Act 2022.
In addition, the inquiry that is currently underway against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for the illegal nomination of the ZTBL CEO in contravention of the Nationalisation Act of 1974 would be hampered if this were to occur.
In accordance with the provisions of articles 4 (2)(b)(d)(e) and 9(a) (vi) of the NAB statute, the inquiry into the Federal Minister of Railways will likewise be brought to a stop.
The National Accountability Bureau has also informed the Supreme Court that an investigation against PTI leader Shaukat Ali Yousafzai in connection with the alleged misuse of authority as the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa information minister will be impacted due to the fact that the amount involved in this scam is less than Rs500 million.
In a similar vein, an investigation against the PTI active member and former health minister Amir Kayani regarding the misuse of authority and obtaining of pecuniary advantage through dishonest and illegal means while framing the Drug Pricing Policy would be affected under Section 4(2)(a) of the National Accountability Amendment Act 2022. This inquiry would focus on the PTI active member’s actions during the formulation of the Drug Pricing Policy.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has also advised that the investigation against former PTI federal minister Khosro Bakhtiar, Makhdom Hasham Khan Bakht, and other family members on the charge of acquisition of assets would be affected with the first amendment in Section 4(2). (c ).
In accordance with the provisions of Section 4(2)(a) of the National Accountability Act 2022, an investigation into the crime of possessing assets in excess of one’s recognised sources of income has been opened against PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur.
The investigation into JUIF Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman will be brought to a close since the value of the property in the case that is registered in the name of the accused person is insignificant, and the linking of benamidars in light of the new amendment statute is extremely challenging.
The National Accountability Bureau has also notified the Supreme Court that the investigation against Public Accounts Committee Chairman Noor Alam in the issue of assets beyond means will be affected because the sum in question is less than Rs500 million.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NAB) has complied with the ruling of the highest court in the land by submitting a list of all corruption cases that would be affected by recent revisions to NAB statute.
According to the study, the proposed NAB modifications would have an impact on 755 cases that are currently in the inquiry stage as well as 292 cases that are currently in the investigation state.
Out of these, 510 are cases in which the amount at stake is less than Rs500 million, and it is these cases that would be impacted by the addition that was made to Section 5(o) of the NAO 1999 by way of Section 3 of the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Act 2022.
The new amendments to the NAB law will have an impact on approximately 168 cases relating to the offence of having assets beyond means as defined in Section 9(a)(v), and approximately 213 cases relating to the charge of having assets beyond means as defined in Section 9(a)(vi). Both of these sections of the NAB law. In a similar vein, 89 different cases that include cheating will be impacted.
In addition, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) informed the Supreme Court that the investigation against Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on the allegation that he cheated members of the general public by misusing his authority and got approved Kent Housing Society and obtained occupied land of private individuals will be affected under recent amendments to the NAB law.
The investigation against former Member of Provincial Assembly Abdul Aleem Khan, who is accused of amassing assets in the amount of Rs1.4 billion during the years 2002 to 2018, at a rate that was discovered to be disproportionate to his known sources of income, will be hampered as a result of this development.
It is likely that the inquiry into the Chaudhry Sugar Mill, which belongs to the Sharif family and is owned by Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, would be hampered.
Under the new NAB law, the investigation of Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, who is accused of having assets beyond recognised sources and assets in the name of benamidars totaling Rs95 million, as well as unlawful gains totaling Rs100 million, will be impacted.
The most recent changes to the NAB law will have an impact on a total of six of the cases that have been brought against Nawaz Sharif. The investigation being conducted against Syed Adil Gilani, chairman of Transparency International of Pakistan, would also be impacted.
