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Summary National Accountability Commission Bill 2012 was tabled in NA while PML-N and ANP opposed the bill.
National Accountability Commission and Fair Trial Bills 2012 were tabled in the National Assembly on Monday evening Law Minister Farooq H.Naek presented the bills in the house while PML-N and ANP opposed the bill.Zahid Hamid of PML-N said the bill already before the standing committee had been thoroughly debated and adopted by the committee but the government did not present the report in the House.He said that the bill does not represent suggestions and recommendations tabled by the PML-N.Pervez Rashid of ANP said that his party was not taken into confidence on the bill.Earlier‚ introducing the bills‚ the law minister said Holders of Public Offices Bill‚ 2009 which was referred to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice three years back had become controversial and has been withdrawn.He said a new transparent bill is being introduced which should be reported upon by the committee at the earliest.Meanwhile, Fair Trial Bills 2012 was also tabled in the National Assembly.As per the bill, the law enforcement and intelligence agencies would enjoy the right to tape phone calls of any suspected person.According to Dunya News, the government has prepared a plan to end the corruption cases registered before October 2002.The new Accountability Commission will launch investigation into corruption and embezzlement.The commission would enjoy the authority to get details of evidences, documents and assets of any Pakistani from other countries with legal consultation while the commission would also have the authority to take action for transfer of evidence in Pakistan from other countries.According to the bill, the chairman of the commission would be a retired judge of the Supreme Court or Grade 22 officer who would be appointed by the President of Pakistan with consultation for three years tenure.Nobody will enjoy immunity except the President as proposed in the bill.Moreover, the Accountability Commission would have its independent investigation agency and its head would be its director general. The agency would investigate in an independent way.According to the bill, a corrupt person will get seven-year jail sentence with fine while a corrupt person holding any public office will face 5-year disqualification over 2 years sentence.Accountability courts comprising District and Session judges would be established throughout the country.
