President Zardari approves bill extending NAB chairman’s term by three years

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has given his assent to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Amendment Bill, 2026, which permits an extension of the NAB chairperson’s tenure by an additional three years. The approval was granted on Thursday, just one day before the current term of the incumbent NAB Chairman, Lt General (retired) Nazir Ahmed, was set to expire.

The bill was expedited through both Houses of Parliament amid significant opposition protests. The legislation amends Section 6 of the NAB Ordinance, which previously stipulated that the NAB chairman would serve a non-extendable term of three years and was ineligible for reappointment. With the new amendment, the chairperson’s term can now be extended for another three years.

Lt General (retd) Nazir Ahmed was appointed as NAB chairman on March 4, 2023, following the resignation of his predecessor, Aftab Sultan. Sultan had stepped down, citing “interference” and “pressure” as reasons for his departure. Following the president’s assent, an official notification was issued extending Nazir Ahmed’s tenure, allowing him to remain in office until March 2029.

The bill’s swift passage through the legislative process drew strong objections from opposition lawmakers, who voiced concerns over the manner in which the amendment was introduced and approved. Despite the outcry, the government moved forward with the legislation, and the president’s approval formalized the changes to the NAB Ordinance.

The extension of the NAB chairman’s term marks a significant change in the accountability body’s leadership structure, as the previous legal framework did not allow for such an extension or reappointment. The official notification confirming Nazir Ahmed’s extended term has now been issued, ensuring continuity in the bureau’s leadership for the next three years.