All offenses will be non-bailable but NAB accused will be able to get bail on submission of bail equivalent to corruption, reference against the accused can be filed in any NAB court, accountability court will hear on daily basis. Contents of the Presidential Ordinance
ISLAMABAD – The new NAB law has made it easier for the accused to get bail. The NAB accused will be able to get bail on submission of bail equivalent to corruption. Reference against the accused can be filed in any NAB court. The accountability court will hold hearings on a daily basis. According to details, the President has issued the National Accountability Second Amendment Ordinance 2021.
Under the contents of the Presidential Ordinance, the new NAB Ordinance includes Common Interest Council, NEC, NFC, ECNEC, Federal-Provincial Cabinet Committees, Sub-Committees, CDs. Decisions of WP, PDWP will be outside NAB jurisdiction, NAB law will not apply to federal, provincial, and local taxation matters, all offenses under the ordinance will be non-bailable, only the accountability court has the release or bail of the accused. NAB accused will be able to get bail on submission of bail equal to the amount of corruption.
The accountability court will hear the case on daily basis. Chairman NAB will file references in consultation with the Prosecutor General. It can also be filed in the NAB court. The accountability court will be allowed to use modern technology to record evidence.
The contents of the ordinance further said that the President will be able to set up accountability courts in the country as much as he wants. The President will appoint judges of accountability courts in consultation with the concerned Chief Justice of the High Court. Judges for accountability courts will be appointed for a period of three years. The President will appoint the Chairman NAB in consultation with the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition. If there is no consensus, the matter will be referred to a parliamentary committee.
The term of office of the new chairman will be for four years. After the completion of the four-year term of the chairman NAB, the chairman NAB will also be appointed for the next four years. In the Presidential Ordinance, Chairman NAB Justice (Retd) Javed Iqbal has been extended till the appointment of the new Chairman NAB. The present Chairman will continue his work till the appointment of the new Chairman.
