–Qureshi says govt wants to eradicate corruption through better legislation
ISLAMABAD: The opposition on Monday sought time from the federal government to seek consultation from its leadership on the draft bill presented to amend the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999.
The second meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Legislative Business was held here on Monday with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the chair.
During the meeting, the government discussed with the opposition issues related to amendments to the NAB laws, action plan of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.
Sources told Pakistan Today that the government in its recommendations has proposed an extension in the tenure of the chairman, deputy chairman and prosecutor general NAB; however the opposition has rejected the proposal, saying they needed to be discussed first. Sources said that the opposition told the government representatives that they would need to consult with their leadership on the other proposals.
The committee took up nine drafts of legislation, mostly related to the FATF framework. The opposition members of the committee is likely not to create any problems in amendments relating to FATF; however they are all set to give tough time to the government pertaining to the provision of reappointment of the NAB chairman and prosecutor general NAB.
The parliamentary committee would meet on Tuesday to deliberate on the draft laws.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Qureshi said that the federal government wanted to eradicate corruption from the roots through better legislation.
He said that governments keep changing, but legislation is a constant process.
“We have one position on some laws, while the Opposition has another,” he said. “A 24-member parliamentary committee has been formed to bridge the gap between us and the opposition.”
The foreign minister said that one meeting of the parliamentary committee has been held and another will be convened soon.
“We have sent the drafts related to the FATF, national security and NAB to our friends in the opposition,” he said. “I hope that we will look at these drafts together and discuss it,” the foreign minister observed.
Qureshi added that we [the government] also do not want to tarnish anyone’s honour in the name of corruption, or harass anyone. “However, those who have looted this country must be brought to justice,” the FM said.
“Thus, our aim is to have a law that meets both these benchmarks,” he added.
Last week, the Supreme Court, while raising questions on the conduct of NAB, ruled in its 83-page judgment that accountability laws had been successfully used to change political loyalties. The landmark observation came as the court decided to grant bail to PML-N stalwart Saad Rafique.
However, it was reported on July 25 that the government has proposed doing away with a clause in the law governing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) that would allow it to extend the tenure of the anti-graft body’s chairman.
The National Accountability Ordinance amendment bill also seeks sparing public office holders from NAB action for any step taken in “good faith”.
The draft law on NAB and eight bills aimed at removing the country from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list have been shared with the opposition.
A 24-member committee, headed by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and comprising members from the ruling PTI and its allies and opposition parties including PML-N, PPP and JUI-F will be meeting today to reach an understanding on the proposed laws.
