Daily Times

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday was informed by the provincial government that it had formed a committee to review the repeal of the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999.

The SHC bench headed by Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Shaikh, was hearing s bunch of petitions filed by several political parties, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pasban-e-Pakistan and some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) against the Sindh government for repealing the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, better known as the NAB Ordinance, in the province.

During the hearing, Sindh Advocate General Barrister Zameer Hussain Ghumro informed the court that the provincial cabinet had formed a committee to review the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 Repeal Bill 2017. “The committee has been directed to convene its meetings and submit its report within six weeks,” he added.

The bench put off the hearing and directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to continue its operation in the province.

Earlier, the Sindh government had formed a committee comprising provincial ministers— Dr Sikndar Mandhro, Nisar Khuhro, Nasir Hussain Shah and Sardar Shah—, Zameer Ghumro and law secretary.

Several opposition parties and NGOs had moved the court after the Sindh government had decided to replace NAB with its own ‘Sindh Accountability Agency’. The petitioners have alleged that it was an attempt by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to give a cover to the prevailing corruption in the province, which was against the constitutions.

The provincial assembly had on July 3 passed the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 Sindh Repeal Bill, 2017 that repealed the applicability of the NAB Ordinance to departments and autonomous bodies controlled by the provincial government. It had also approved the establishment of a provincial accountability agency.

Published in Daily Times, October 10^th 2017.