ISLAMABAD: The joint session of the Parliament has passed the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Bill 2021 and Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
The bills were passed by both Houses of Parliament in last month and sent to President Dr Arif Ali for his assent to make it law. The president had refused to sign the bills ands returned them to the prime minister saying they were sign in haste and without due diligence.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarrar presented both the bills. He said legislation is sole prerogative of parliament and President cannot dictate the legislature.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi rejected President’s observations and objections by terming them as baseless.
The election amendment bill has abolished the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in polls and voting right for overseas Pakistanis. The NAB bill aimed at scrapping power the anti-graft watchdog and the procedure following the retirement of NAB chairman.
The president had returned the bills saying Article 46 of the Constitution had been violated as he was not informed about the legislative proposal before the bill was brought to the parliament.
The bills do not need approval by the president, as they are now passed in the joint session of the parliament. The PTI has been a strong vocal for the right to vote for overseas Pakistanis and use of EVMs. The PTI had boycotted the joint session of parliament.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, while tabling the bill, rejected the observations and objections, except that the NAB chairman may declare any place as sub-jail.
The bill proposed that NAB ordinance will not be applicable to all matters pertaining to federal, provincial or local taxations, decisions of the federal or provincial cabinet and constitutional bodies as well as procedural lapses in performance of any public or government work.
It states that Chairman and Deputy Chairman NAB will be appointed by Federal Government. The Chairman will be appointed after consultation between the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly.
