Pak govt. decides to review NAB Ordinance after growing criticism

Islamabad [Pakistan], Jan. 03 (ANI): Pakistan Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid has said that the government is in the process of forming a parliamentary committee to review the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Ordinance, keeping in view the growing criticism regarding plea bargain and voluntary return. On Monday, even the Supreme Court expressed its concern over the voluntary return power of the NAB while stating that the institution has become a facilitator of corruption. Justice Azmat Saeed said that the NAB had become a facilitator for corruption as it resumed hearing a case regarding voluntary return of funds-which allows an individual pay back the amount he has embezzled to the public kitty and gets cleared of all charges. While speaking before a Senate's standing committee on Monday, the law minister said following intense deliberations, that the NAB Ordinance of 1999 should be reviewed, reports the Dawn. The committee members had a detailed discussion on Section 25 of the NAB law that deals with voluntary return and plea bargain. Meanwhile, NAB deputy chairman Imtiaz Tajwar, DG operations Zahir Shah and other officials defended the powers. (ANI)