President Dr. Arif Alvi signed an ordinance on Wednesday that significantly limits the authority of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and allows the president to re-appoint or prolong the tenure of the current NAB chairman, despite opposition objections.
Despite the claims of some federal ministers who said they would not consult opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif on the appointment of the NAB chairman because the latter is facing corruption charges, the National Accountability Second Amendment Ordinance 2021 has expanded the role of the opposition in the appointment of the NAB chairman.
The ordinance also excludes the federal and provincial cabinets, the business community, and collective decisions made by committees or subcommittees, such as the Council of Common Interests, the National Economic Council, the National Finance Commission, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, the Central Development Working Party, the Provincial Development Working Party, and the Departmental Development Working Party.
According to the ordinance, “all matters about Federal, Provincial or Local taxation, other levies or imposts, including refunds, or loss of exchequer about taxation” will be dealt with following the revenue or banking laws and will be transferred from the accountability courts to the courts of competent jurisdiction.
