Governor Sindh Zubayr Umer declines ratification of Sindh Ehtesaab 2017 bill
A Bill revoking status NAB ordinance (1999) to be introduced by Sindh Government for the second time
KARACHI (Dunya News) - The federal Government and Sindh’s provinicial Government are at loggerheads regarding the contents of Sindh Ehtesaab (accountability) bill (2017). The Governor of Sindh, Muhammad Zubayr Umer, has again declined to sign the Sindh Ehtesaab bill (2017) which was passed in Sindh assembly.
The new resolution of Sindh ehtesaab bill (2017) will be introduced in the Sindh assembly once again in event of rejection of Governor Sindh, who declined to ratify the document.
The Governor of Sindh did not ratify the bill as it revoked the status of NAB ordinance (1999). The Sindh Assembly, passed National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, Repeal Bill, 2017, repealing NAB Ordinance (1999) across the Sindh province and giving all powers to provincial anti-corruption department amid ruckus and walkout from the opposition lawmakers.
The provincial government had termed the NAB ordinance as draconian law and said it was aimed at victimising political opponents. The previous Sindh Ehtesaab bill (2017) was tabled by Law Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjhar, which the PPPP lawmakers considered as way for fair trial and no victimisation.
Under the new law, The NAB ordinance (1999) stood repealed across the province and all proceedings, inquiries and investigations pending under it would be transferred to Sindh Anti-Corruption Establishment. It further said that all legal proceedings under accountability courts would stand transferred to anti-corruption courts.
