President Arif Alvi on Wednesday promulgated the National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, under which NAB Chairman Justice retired Javed Iqbal will continue to serve the post until a new chairman is appointed.
The new NAB chairman will be appointed for a period of four years and his term may be extended, as per the amended ordinance.
The method followed for the appointment of the NAB chairman will be the one employed while granting an extension.
The ordinance states that the president will appoint the NAB chairman in consultation with the prime minister and the Opposition leader.
In case of a failure to reach a consensus on the appointment, the matter will be sent to a 12-member parliamentary committee formed especially for the matter of the appointment.
It also states that the NAB chairman can send his resignation to the president.
Under the new ordinance, the president has the authority to establish as many accountability courts in the country, as he deems fit.
Judges to the accountability courts will be appointed for a three-year term, the ordinance states.
The NAB law will not extend to matters pertaining to federal, provincial and local taxation after such matters were removed from under its purview.
Furthermore, decisions pertaining to the Council of Common Interests, (CCI), National Economic Council (NEC), National Finance Commission (NFC) and Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), besides those of Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP).
Prime Minister Imran Khan has refused to consult the leader of the opposition over the appointment of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman post.
Earlier, the federal Cabinet had approved the NAB ordinance pertaining to the extension in the tenure of NAB Chairperson Justice (retired) Javed Iqbal.
Sources are now saying that Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken a stand and is saying that he will not consult the leader of the Opposition over the anti-corruption watchdog's appointment.
