Govt to arm new NAB chairman with more powers

The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved amendments to the laws to further empower the chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

As per the official sources, the federal cabinet approved the draft of NAB Laws (Amendment) Ordinance through circulation.

“Cases declared inadmissible by accountability court can be sent by the NAB chairman to any other relevant forum,” the text of the ordinance read.

“The NAB chairman will be able to review the case declared inadmissible and give approval to dispose of it,” it added.

“The agency concerned will be able to open the case from the adjournment stage on the directions of the NAB chairman,” it stated.

“On receiving the case from NAB, the concerned body will have the authority to collect evidence afresh. Under the NAB amendments, the case cannot be transferred from one regional court to the other,” it declared.

“In the absence of the NAB chairman, the deputy chairman will exercise the powers as chairman. In the absence of the deputy chairman, the federal government can delegate the powers of the chairman to any NAB officer,” it stated.

“A civil officer of grade-21 and an army officer of the rank of lieutenant general or major general can be appointed as the deputy chairman. Under the NAB amendments, the Senate deputy chairman has been included in the category of public officeholder,” it said.

Earlier in the NAB Act, the Senate chairman was included in the category of public officeholder.

Reporter: Awais Kiyani