President Alvi returns bill granting more powers to NAB chief

President Dr Arif Alvi on Sunday returned the National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2023 to Parliament for further consideration which was passed by the Senate granting more power to the NAB chief.

The president sent the bill under Article 75(1)(b) of the Constitution, saying that earlier amendments to the accountability laws were already pending before the Supreme Court.

“This aspect has not been addressed in the bill and the prime minister’s advice,” he said.

“Further amendments in the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 should be reconsidered without considering a matter which is already in the court,” said the head of state.

Earlier this month, the Senate passed a bill — already moved by the National Assembly — to amend the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, amid protests and sloganeering by the Opposition.

The bill was moved by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar as the opposition senators alleged that the amendments were person-specific and would render the anti-graft body toothless.

The bill is aimed at granting more powers to the NAB chief and he will have the authority to transfer the case to a relevant agency, the authority or the department or close any inquiry if no case is made out against the suspected person.