NAB Amendment Ordinance 2017 promulgated after President’s approval

NAB Amendment Ordinance 2017 promulgated after President’s approval

Islamabad: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Amendment Ordinance 2017 came into force on Sunday after President Mamnoon Hussain approved the new law.

Under the new amendment, the discretionary powers of the NAB chairman for a plea bargain have been revoked and disqualify, for life, public office holders as well as government servants who benefit from the NAB’s voluntary return and plea bargain.

Following amendment of Section 25-A of the NAB Ordinance 1999, court permission is now necessary to strike any deal for voluntary return or plea bargain.

At a press conference on Saturday, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had said there had been specific observations for a long time about Section 25-A (Voluntary Return and Plea Bargain) and the Supreme Court had also asked the Attorney General about the government’s stance on the issue.