President Zardari assents NAB (Amend) Bill to extend chairman’s tenure

• Bill rushed through Parliament amid opposition protests just a day before NAB chairman’s term was set to expire

• Amendment allows NAB chairman three-year term extendable once, replacing previous non-extendable rule

• PTI leaders allege bill is politically motivated and undermines public interest

 ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday assented to the NAB (Amendment) Bill, 2026, hours after it was rushed through both Houses of Parliament amid opposition protests, just a day before the term of incumbent NAB Chairman Lt-Gen (r) Nazir Ahmed was set to expire.

The bill enables an extension of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman’s term by another three years, which was due to end. Lt-Gen (r) Nazir Ahmed assumed office on March 4, 2023, following the resignation of his predecessor Aftab Sultan, who cited “interference” and “pressure” as reasons for stepping down.

President Asif Ali Zardari has given assent to several bills passed by Parliament and approved related summaries. These include the Virtual Assets Bill 2026, NAB (Amendment) Bill 2026, Privatisation Commission (Amendment) Bill 2026 and other measures concerning the judiciary.

— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) March 5, 2026

Following the presidential assent, a notification was issued extending Lt-Gen (r) Nazir Ahmed’s tenure until March 2029, according to official sources.

 Key Amendments

Previously, a NAB chairman served a non-extendable three-year term and was ineligible for reappointment. The amendment to Section 6 now allows a chairman to serve a three-year term that may be extended once for an additional three years by the federal government.

Under the previous NAB law, the accountability watchdog could take cognisance of corruption cases exceeding Rs500 million. The amended law now allows this threshold to be revised annually in line with the inflation index published by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

“This measure ensures that the financial limits prescribed under the law remain realistic and relevant over time and are not diminished due to inflation,” the statement of objects and reasons in the bill says.

Amendments to Section 4 expand the jurisdiction of accountability courts to cover both trials and appeals, while changes to Section 9 empower accountability courts and the relevant high courts to grant bail or order release under Sections 439, 496, 497, and 498 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

A new provision also allows a second appeal following conviction. “Any person convicted, or the prosecutor general accountability, if so directed by the NAB chairman, aggrieved by the decision made by the high court under section 32, may prefer a second appeal to the Federal Constitutional Court within thirty days,” the law reads.

 The bill’s statement of objects and reasons says the National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2026 aims to clarify procedures, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and introduce additional safeguards in NAB’s appellate and administrative framework.

Passage through Parliament

The private member’s bill was first introduced in the Senate by Muhammad Abdul Qadir, an independent lawmaker from Balochistan, and was tabled via a supplementary agenda on a non-private members’ day, prompting opposition protests.

Opposing the bill, PTI parliamentary leader Barrister Syed Ali Zafar claimed it originated “from somewhere else” and criticised the move to allow criminal cases to be appealed to the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), saying it compromised the judiciary’s dignity. He described the amendment as “a blot on Parliament’s reputation” and alleged it was intended to politically target PTI founder Imran Khan.

Barrister Zafar also denounced the extension of the NAB chairman’s tenure, calling it against public interest. “Lawmakers elected through Form-47 are legislating against the will of the people. Citing past mistakes to bulldoze legislation today is dangerous for democracy,” he said, adding that ignoring the opposition diminishes Parliament’s credibility.

The bill was later introduced in the National Assembly through a supplementary agenda by PML-N’s Mah Jabeen Abbasi for immediate consideration.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan opposed the bill in the NA, criticising the one-sided extension of the anti-graft chief’s term and the increased Rs500 million threshold, warning that the amendments could allow “influential people to get cases dismissed,” and demanded the bill be withdrawn.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl’s Aaliya Kamran said the clause regarding the NAB chairman contradicted the Charter of Democracy, expressing concern over bypassing the Supreme Court as the FCC now hears appeals in corruption cases.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Izharul Hasan noted that lawmakers should have sufficient time to review important legislation before voting.