Second Nab Amendment Bill sails through Senate

The Senate of Pakistan Thursday passed the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Act, 2022, amending the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 (NAO) amidst opposition’s hue and cry, reported 24 News HD TV channel.

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani presided over the meeting while Minister of State for Law Malik Shahadat Awan tabled the NAB second amendment bill. The bill was passed by the National Assembly one day earlier.

PTI members strongly protested when the bill was presented. They along with other opposition members surrounded the chairman’s office, tore copies of the Amendment Bill, and staged a walkout from the House.

The Minister of State apprised the house that the NAB amendment bill is in the public interest, so the amendments had been brought.

PTI Senator Shibli Faraz said that this legislation is being enacted to end the process of accountability in the country.

In this bill, those less than 50 crores have committed corruption, let them be acquitted. It has given immunity to those people who are sitting in the cabinet, he alleged.

During the meeting, government senators Sadia Abbasi and Mushtaq Ahmad also clashed with each other. Senator Mushtaq observed that the amendment bill will give concession to the thieves. Reacting to this, Sadia Abbasi asked Mushtaq "Who are you calling thieves?"

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal also tabled an amendment bill in the Public Private Partnership Authority Act 2017 and the House approved the same with the majority.