Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Babar Awan on Sunday said that the government has decided to abolish the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) replacing it with Holder of Public offices Accountability Act 2009.
Addressing at press conference, he said that the proposed bill in this regard would be tabled in the current session of the National Assembly for debate and after achieving censuses it would be approved from the parliament.
The government would welcome suggestions and positive amendments in the bill from all stakeholders including political parties to make the bill a unanimous one, he added. Explaining the main features of the bill, he said that an Accountability Commission would be set up, which would be consisting of prosecution and investigation. The Minister further said that the Prime Minister would appoint the Chairman of the commission in consultation with the leader of the opposition and the Parliamentary Committee.
The Parliamentary Committee, having 6 members each of treasury as well as opposition benches would from both of the Houses to be nominated by the Speaker National Assembly and Chairman Senate, he remarked.
Babar Awan said that Accountability Bureau was established in 1996, which had become a law after an act of parliament in 1997. The bureau was transformed into NAB by a dictator after October 12 1999 to suppress the political opponents. He maintained that the Apex Court also validated this act.
The Minister said political rivals were harassed and defamed in the name of their accountability and even it also used to change the loyalties in the favour of ruling party.
He said the government has decided to abolish NAB in the line of charter of democracy, party manifesto and Prim Ministers 100-days programme. Babar Awan said that in order to make the commission more transparent its Chairman would be a serving judge of the Supreme Court, retired Apex Court judge or lawyer who meets criteria for SC lawyer rather than a general or senator of ruling party.
Two Deputy chairmen would also be appointed whose qualification would be equal to judge of a high court, he said. He further said that initial appointment of the chairman would be for 90-day and later tenure would be extended on the basis of the performance but the appointment would only for 3 years. "No extension would be given at any cost," he remarked.
Dr Babar Awan said Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government for the first time changed the history of democracy by appointing leader of Opposition as a chairman Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
He said under the law, no separate court would be set-up and the accused would be trailed in ordinary courts. The Chief Justices of the respective courts would appoint session judges for trails.
Chief Justice, Peshawar High Court would appoint judges for FATA public office holders, he added. "No will be trailed in any fort like it was done in past while the hearing for the case will be held at the place of the offence," he said.
He said all offence would be bailable and maximum time would be given to the accused to defend them. Dr Babar Awan said another bill of Nizam-e-Adal Regulation, 2009 would also be laid down in the parliament today (April 13).
Paying rich tribute to the acumen of president Asif Ali Zardari, he said, the President was part of the parliament and wanted to strengthen and empower the House. So, the President decided to send the bill in the parliament first where the elected represented could be able to discuss and give their valuable suggestion for the implementation of the bill through censuses.