NAB Amendment Bill 2023 becomes law, despite president's refusal to sign
Pakistan
NAB chairman will now have power to close inquiries in absence of concrete evidence
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The NAB (National Accountability Bureau) Amendment Bill 2023 has officially become law, despite the president's initial refusal to sign it for the second time. The bill automatically came into effect ten days after the president's rejection, marking a significant development in the country's accountability framework.
The amendment bill was successfully passed in a joint session of Parliament on May 15, amidst deliberations and debates on its potential implications. One of the key provisions of the new law grants the NAB chairman the authority to refer cases that fall outside his jurisdiction to the relevant institutions.
Moreover, the NAB chairman will now have the power to close inquiries in the absence of concrete evidence.
Under the amendments, the NAB chairman is obligated to notify the accountability court about his stance on any particular case. In the event of the chairman's absence, the deputy chairman will assume the role of acting chairman.
However, if both positions are vacant, the federal government reserves the right to appoint a senior NAB officer as the acting chairman.
