After smooth sailing of the Army (Amendment) Act from the National Assembly and Senate, the government on Thursday agreed to include opposition's proposals in the NAB (Amendment) Ordinance.
The sources privy to the development told Business Recorder that a meeting of some key opposition members and government ministers was held at the chamber of Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser to discuss and carry forward the legislation in future through consensus.
They said that the government agreed to include opposition's proposals in the NAB (Amendment) Ordinance. In this regard, the PPP will also be consulted as it had already introduced a bill in the Senate during the last government of PML-N.
A member from the opposition side who declined to be named said that unanimous points will be added to the new law by keeping the proposed agendas of the government and the opposition about the anti-graft watchdog.
According to the formula set by the government and the opposition, three out of nine ordinances would be approved, while four out of the six bills will be passed unanimously. The two bills will be presented to the National Assembly after approval by the standing committees.
Talking to journalists, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan said that consensus on changes in NAB Ordinance reflects all the parties are united when it comes to national interest.
She said that the unity shown by the political parties in making legislation regarding the Army Act reflects that there will be no compromise on national security and national interest.
The government's move to amend the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999 through a presidential ordinance did not go down well with the opposition parties which called it an attempt by the ruling party to shield its own corrupt leaders and civil servants from accountability.
The opposition parties rejected the newly promulgated National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019 and demanded that the matter be discussed in the Parliament.
The government defended the move saying that the new ordinance would ensure that nobody is treated unfairly and it would eventually go to the Parliament as it was only effective for a minimum of four months and a maximum of eight months.
The new ordinance limits the sweeping powers of NAB to act against any individual accused of financial corruption at will.
It offers more protection to public office-holders or government officials while at the same time excludes several financial sectors from the purview of NAB.
The Premier had ordered the ministers to reach out to the opposition and build a consensus on the amendments.
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