A day after President Arif Alvik refused In a move to give his assent for the second time to a piece of legislation that sought to clip the vast powers of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday rubbished the notion that the NAB reform bill should be was designed with purpose. To close the ongoing corruption cases against the PML-N leadership.
Speaking to the media outside the accountability court on Tuesday, he said, “The cases against us will continue.”
However, he then alleged that the cases were registered by the NAB at the behest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan for “political engineering” and “putting pressure” on his opponents.
“There is no essence in any matter, there is nothing in it,” he remarked. “And I repeat that our cases may continue, the cases against the PML-N may continue. This can be written in the law as well. But shut down this institution. [NAB],
Abbasi’s statement came a day after the National Accountability (Amendment Bill) 2022 – which has now been the subject of controversy between the government and the opposition for weeks – went into effect after President Alvi refused to give his assent to it for the second time.
Meanwhile, PTI alleged that the intention of the government behind the law was to get a second NRO, implying that it was aimed at closing corruption cases against the political leadership of the current coalition setup.
The bill was passed by the National Assembly and Senate last month and later sent to the President for his approval. However, President Alvi sent it back On 4 June, after which a meeting was called by the government joint sitting of parliament To pass the bill on June 9 – which was approved the same day.
Procedurally, after bills are passed by a joint sitting, they are submitted for the assent of the President. If the President does not give his assent within 10 days, it will be deemed to have been given.
However, President Alvi on Monday again sent back the unsigned NAB bill, saying he believed the bill to be “regressive in nature” and adding that it would “regress the long arm of the law”. It will encourage corruption by crippling it by ensuring it”.
The President said the bill also sent a message to the corrupt, who claimed that they had tremendous wealth, that they were not accountable and were free to continue looting the country.
Speaking about the President’s rejection of the bill, Abbasi today said the reason for Alvi’s rejection of the bill was that it “failed to meet the requirements of justice”.
He added, “My question to him is what do you need to improve in this.” He further said that where in the world has it happened that the person facing the charge was asked to prove his innocence. He said that everywhere in the world the system was such that the accuser also gave proof of this.
Abbasi continued: “It is unfortunate for this country that its president, in defiance of parliament, feels compelled to act as a hindrance. When the president becomes a member of a party, the affairs of the country How’s it going?”
He urged President Alvi to take account of the cases registered by the NAB in the last four years and base his decision on the reform bill.
Abbasi claimed, “Tell me, which politician the NAB managed to declare guilty… All its cases are fake and its purpose is political engineering.”
He then asked whether the President ever bothered to seek details of corruption cases filed by the NAB from Javed Iqbal, former chairman of the accountability watchdog, during PTI’s tenure.
“Ask him against whom cases were filed, ask for other details, and you will know what the NAB is doing,” he said, “It is clear that unless NAB exists, this country cannot be run.” could.”
He alleged that the NAB “devastated the country’s economy”.
Stating that most of the proposed amendments to the NAB law were in fact during PTI’s tenure and that several federal ministers had acknowledged that these were necessary to meet the requirements of justice, he urged the Prime Minister to “take off PTI’s cap and asked to wear the cap of the President”.
“It is unfortunate that the President was least bothered when he (PTI) government was there. He used to sign ordinances in the dark of night,” Abbasi said. ,
Responding to a question about power load shedding, Abbasi said it has been reduced significantly and the PML-N-led coalition government aims to reduce it further in future.
But, he added, “the issue is that no LNG or coal was bought [by the previous government], Nor was there any arrangement for fuel. And their prices have gone up now.”
Abbasi said that no further burden can be placed on the people and the economy. and “we are managing the situation with minimum possible loadshedding”.
Asked about reports of threats to Imran, he assured that the government would provide security to the PTI chief, but added that “conspiracies against Imran have been talked about in the past and no one has yet to prove it.” The evidence has not been presented.” they”.
He prayed that these threats were of similar nature, adding that such “doubts were only in Imran’s head”.
“All these have come to the fore after losing power,” adding that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah will protect them.
80 percent of NAB amendments prepared during PTI government: Law Minister
Law and Justice Minister Azam Nazir Tarar also defended the NAB amendments during a press conference in Islamabad today. He said most of the amendments – 75 to 80 per cent – were already prepared during the tenure of the PTI government.
Defending the amendments, the minister gave various reasons why they were promulgated. He rejected the notion that they were attempting to deliver a National Reconciliation Ordinance-type deal by the government itself, saying they were in line with human rights and court decisions.