The Chief Justice Sindh High Court Ahmed Ali Sheikh on 17th August, constituted a full bench to hear a set of petitions filed by different political parties and right groups against National Accountability Ordinance 1999 Sindh Repeal Act, 2017.
The Muttahida Qaumi Qaumi Movement, the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf as well as civil rights campaigners had filed the petitions in the SHC against the law.
With the new law in effect, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will now only be mandated to probe and hear cases related to the federal government's institutions as its authority in the province will be replaced with the Sindh Accountability Commission.
On July 3, the Sindh Assembly passed the 'anti-NAB bill', which seeks to revoke NAB’s power in the province. The bill was vehemently opposed by opposition members of the house.
The provincial government will now have to establish a provincial commission on accountability. All corruption cases against provincial lawmakers and officials will be referred to an anti-corruption department overseen by the Sindh government.
Speaking to the media after the session, Hassan said the bill was a violation of Articles 248, 143, 8 and 31 of the Constitution. "Article 31 clearly states that a law cannot be against Islamic teachings," Hassan said.
The bill was tabled just a few days after NAB announced it would expand the scope of its investigation against alleged corruption and irregularities in different departments of Sindh, particularly in Karachi.
Suspicion behind the move!!!
Recently, the bureau’s executive board had authorised an inquiry against officials of the Workers Welfare Board (WWB) and the revenue department of Gadap town in Karachi.
The board had also approved an inquiry against officers of Sindh police into the alleged embezzlement of funds.
Earlier, NAB Karachi had arrested Manzar Abbas, chairman of the Benazir Housing Cell (BHC), for alleged misappropriation of Rs367.5m of the cell’s funds.
The bureau is also currently investigating two cases relating to the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA).