ISLAMABAD: Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, former Chairman Senate has termed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), referring the National Accountability (Amendment) II Ordinance, (NAO, 2021) to the Ministry of Law for interpretation and clarifications as strange and said it reflects on the independent status of the NAB.
“Referring the section 4 of the NAO, 2021, is a speaking section and clearly states the bodies, entities and matters to which the NAO, 2021, shall not apply”, Rabbani said in a statement issued here on Friday.
The need of seeking the advice and or guidance of the Ministry of Law does not rise, Rabbani said.
The NAO, 2021, is an Ordinance promulgated under Article 89, Constitution, 1973, thereby, being an Executive Act of temporary legislation. Seeking interpretation from the Executive on a law promulgated by them and not passed by Parliament smacks of mala fide.
The interpretation of the law under the constitutional scheme rests with the judiciary. If any person had been aggrieved by the interpretation of the NAB to the various sections of the NAO, 2021, they could have approached the courts of law.
After the NAO, 2021, the NAB should be wound up. The existing Organizations under the law be made more affective or Parliament legislate a new law for across the board accountability, which would do away with trial by one’s own peers and there would remain no holy cows.
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