Govt to share amendments in NAB law with opposition today

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ISLAMABAD : The government is expected to share its proposed draft of amendments in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws with the opposition in a meeting expected to be held today.

A meeting between the opposition parties and the government has also been called to review the proposed changes.

“The government has its own, and the opposition has its own stance,” said Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, adding that the two will sit together and discuss the law.

He added the government will move on after listening to their point of view.

The meeting comes as the opposition parties have united in demanding the abolishment of NAB but the ruling party has to find consensus to deal with the anti-graft body that greatly helped the government in achieving its target to “target the opponents.”

Both PML-N and PPP have called for the shutting down of NAB following a damning judgement of the Supreme Court in Paragon Housing Scheme.

SC slams NAB’s utter disregard for law

The Supreme Court on Monday in its detailed verdict on a bail petition filed by PML-N leaders Khawaja Saad Rafique and Khawaja Salman Rafique in the Paragon Housing Society case highlighted severe lapses in due process and legal procedure by NAB.

In the detailed, 87-page ruling, penned by Justice Maqbool Baqar, the court highlighted the definition and purpose of bail as well as due process in criminal cases.

According to the judge, it was unfortunate that “even after 72 years since the creation of our country, and despite 47 years since the adoption of the Constitution, we have not been able to realize the spirit and essence of the ideals set out therein”.

Justice Baqar went on to say that the present case was “a classic example of trampling fundamental rights, unlawful deprivation of freedom, and liberty and the complete disregard for human dignity as guaranteed by the Constitution”.

The judge also slammed NAB over various actions and processes, saying its “conduct throughout this case is a clear manifestation of their utter disregard for the law, fair play, equity and propriety”.