PML-N to table new accountability bill in the parliament

PML-N to table new accountability bill in the parliament

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to introduce its own accountability bill namely “National Accountability Commission Act 2010” in the parliament after it failed to reach on consensus over the government’s
draft despite the debate over two and half years.

The proposed draft of the PML-N’s bill will be presented in the next session of the National Assembly, reported stated.

Earlier “Holder of Public Office Accountability Bill 2009” was introduced by the government in April 2009 and was referred to NA Standing Committee on Law and Justice.

The Committee has failed to develop a consensus over the bill despite holding more than 30 meetings over a period on of two and a half years. The PML-N was eager to make all its recommendations as part of the bill,
however, the government is opposing the move.

According to the proposed draft of the bill prepared by the PML-N, an accountability commission (National Accountability Commission) will be constituted as compare to a bureau mentioned in the government’s bill.

“The commission will administratively, financially and functionally be an independent body,” the bill said. The chairman of the commission will be a judge of the Supreme Court while the deputy chairman will be a judge
of any high court.

The bill said that the chairman and the deputy chairman of the NAC will be nominated by the prime minister with consultation of the leader of opposition in the National Assembly.

A 12-member parliamentary committee, having equal numbers from the government and opposition sides, representing both NA and the Senate will confirm the appointment of top officials.

“The commission will have its own investigation agency to probe the offences and the offenders having powers similar to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA),” the PML-N proposed.

The NAC will appoint a chief prosecutor and prosecutors for legal assistance and prosecution of the cases in the courts. The commission itself will appoint the staff, the bill further said adding the expenditures
of the organization will be charged upon the Federal Consolidated Funds.

“The act will be applicable on all persons in the services of Pakistan defined in the Article 260 of the Constitution including president, governors, members of the parliament, members of the judiciary, armed forces,
office holders of local councils and organizations controlled by the federal or provincial governments,” the bill mentioned.

According to the PML-N draft, corruption by a public office holder will be a non-bailable offence. The minimum punishment will be a seven-year imprisonment while 14 years maximum. The offender will also be disqualified
for a period of five-year for holding any place in the services of Pakistan.

It is worth highlighting here that the PML-N has differences on four points with the government over the “Holder of Public Office Accountability Bill 2009” already introduced in the parliament by the Ministry of Law
and Justice.

The government wants the law should be imposed retrospectively from January 01, 1985 however; the PML-N says no exact date should be mention.

The PML-N is of the view that a judge of the Supreme Court should be appointed as chairman of accountability body while the government says it is impossible according to the Judicial Policy.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Dec 6 2011. Filed under Latest News, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry