Islamabad June 4 2022: President Dr. Arif Alvi returned the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Election Amendment Bill without approval.
The President referred the bill back to the Prime Minister under Article 75 (b) and directed the Parliament and its committees to review and consider the Bills in detail.
The President of Pakistan has returned the amendments to the NAB Ordinance to Parliament, insisting that when the onus of proof to show money trail is shifted from the accused to the prosecution in white collar crimes, it would become a futile exercise.
The President said that the President was not informed about the legislative proposals and by not informing him, Article 46 was violated.
The president objected that both the bills were hastily passed by the National Assembly on May 26 and the Senate on May 27. The legal community and civil society should be consulted on the legislation. The right to vote can be granted, the court said in its decision that i-voting has been declared safe by third parties.
The President said that under Article 17 of the Constitution, Pakistanis living abroad have been given the right to vote. Pakistan’s voting machine has a complete system of paper trail, voting machine helps in printing and counting of ballot papers.
Referring to the NAB rules, the President objected that the amendments to the NAB rules have been made similar to criminal laws by placing the burden of proof on the prosecution. Allegations of abuse have been made impossible.
Arif Alvi said that amendments in NAB law will bury the process of accountability in Pakistan. NAB amendments are also against the spirit of Islamic jurisprudence. It will be impossible to get money trail of illegal assets from NAB amendments. Will make mega corruption cases in the courts inconclusive.
On the other hand, the implementation of both the laws requires the approval of the President. However, after the decision of the President, the government will present the two bills in a joint sitting of Parliament.