SANA MAHMOOD

KARACHI: In a petition to the SC Nasir Ahmad Advocate, while maintaining that National Accountability Ordinance (NAO)  is protected by Article 270 of the Constitution, has said that Sindh Assembly (SA) cannot repeal NAB’s powers.

According to the petitioner: “Changes in the NAO or the suspension of NAB’s powers fall under the parliament’s purview…The Sindh government has opened the doors to corruption by repealing the NAO, which is a violation of basic human rights”.  

The petitioner has nominated the federal law ministry and the speaker of the Sindh Assembly as respondents in his petition against repealing  the NAO 1999 bill passed in Sindh. 

Pundits at the helm of affairs keenly noted the development: 

i) Influential  people  got  unnerved  by the NAB cases against themselves;

ii) On their insistence Govt of Sindh has passed in July, 2017 the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 Repeal Bill 2017 that is presently an act;

iii) It repeals applicability of NAO to Provincial Government’s departments and autonomous bodies. 

iv) Provincial Assembly had approved establishment of an accountability agency;

v) Accountability Agency to replace Anti-Corruption Establishment. 

It is pertinent to mention here that with the passing of new law:

i) The 1991 Sindh Inquiries & Anti-Corruption Act and Rules made here-under stand repealed. 

ii) All the employees, assets, liabilities and the cases pending at Anti-Corruption Establishment are transferred to the Sindh Accountability Agency. 

iii) Sindh Government to establish accountability courts to be headed by DJs. 

iv) Accountability commission to consist of Agency’s chairman, advocate general, prosecutor general, director general and director investigation. 

v) Progress of corruption cases would be reviewed by the commission;

vi) Government would be advised by the commission apropos steps for ending the corruption in the province. 

Meanwhile, SA Secretariat today  has instructed the concerned authorities to print the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 Sindh Repeal Act, 2017, in the Gazette.