NAB statute was modified to remove references to Zardari, Nawaz, and Gilani. The coalition government also made amendments to the NAO 2000, and a NAB case was opened on the charge of misappropriating Rs500 million.
ISLAMABAD: On Wednesday, an accountability court returned a reference to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) under the recently amended NAB law against former president Asif Ali Zardari, former premiers Nawaz Sharif, and Yousuf Raza Gilani.
The National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 2000 was amended by the coalition government, and as reported by the Express News, a NAB case is now brought on a charge of Rs500 million. Previously, the charge against the accused was for Rs110 million.
Judge Muhammad Bashir of the accountability court gave directions to transmit the reference to the proper venue in accordance with the NAB Amendment Ordinance during the hearing.
It is important to note that Muhammad Bashir, who served as an administrative judge after Asghar Ali’s term as the accountability court judge ended, heard the referral.
The coalition administration led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was able to pass the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Bill 2021 in May of this year, just a few weeks after taking office.
Imran Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and a former prime minister, opposed the modifications to the NAO 1999 and filed a constitutional petition with the Supreme Court (SC) under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution on June 25. He claimed that the changes would allow public officials to get away with white-collar crimes.
The revisions have subsequently helped over 90% of cases that the NAB has been handling, including high-profile ones, whether at the inquiry, investigation, or trial stage, according to a report that the graft buster filed to the SC.
Among the leaders of all major political parties, including the PTI, PM Shehbaz Sharif is the main gainer from the amendments. The adjustments will be advantageous even to senior federal ministers.
