Federal Law Minister Dr. Farogh Naseem on Wednesday hinted at amendment in law relating to National Accountability Bureau saying no one would be allowed to abuse plea bargain or voluntary return options under the law.
While taking to media, Dr. Naseem expressed that NAB should not be made a toothless institution saying under the amendments it will be ensured that no one can abuse the plea bargain or voluntary return options.
It is worth mentioning that ever since the inception of the country’s top anti-graft body, NAB, the opposition parties have cried foul over its proceedings deeming it to be working at the behest of the government.
Talking to a press conference in presence of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Naseem shared the ministry’s one-year performance report.
Dr. Naseem said the ministry drafted a total of 22 laws in the last one year to ensure speedy justice and enhance the efficiency of the judicial system. Seven bills, he added, had been passed with the remaining seven to eight were before the standing committees or the National Assembly for passage.
He informed that the ministry also rolled out eight ordinances, adding that the Standing Committee on Law passed the Civil Procedure (Amendment) bill which will ensure speedy trial of civil cases.
Dr.Naseem claimed the cases, which earlier used to consume three to four decades will now be settled in one or one and a half year under this bill saying the government had also formulated a bill to ensure issuance of succession certificate as early as 15 days.
He said the whistleblower act envisaged reward of 20 per cent for those who would help recover illegal wealth. Under this act, the law minister said, the name of information provider will be kept secret.
Dr. Naseem further informed a Legal Aid and Justice Authority bill will be introduced to provide free of charge legal aid to the poor, including women and children.
The Mutual Legal Assistance Bill, he added, will regulate the procedure for rendering and soliciting mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. The law minister said the Pakistan Code envisaging 848 laws had been uploaded on the website of the law ministry which could be accessed by everyone.
