The national anti-graft watchdog, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) received an overnight boost after its law was further amended by the Shehbaz Sharif-led government, empowering the anti-corruption body to detain suspects for 30 days, The News reported on Tuesday.
After receiving approval from the federal cabinet, acting president Sadiq Sanjrani signed the NAB (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 in the dark of the night.
The NAB chairman is authorised under the ordinance to issue an arrest warrant for an accused person who refuses to cooperate with an inquiry.
This is the second time the coalition administration has altered this specific part of the NAB law. Previously in June 2022, it had amended the NAB legislation to cut the length of physical remand from 90 days to 14 days.
The authorities have not provided any explanation as to why it was necessary to enhance the detention limit under the law so quickly.
It is important to note that when the National Assembly is in session, hence presidential ordinances may not be issued. Moreover, the elected president is currently out of the country and the Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani is currently acting as the president.
The legislature was technically not prorogued after the National Budget was approved on June 24. Instead, it was merely postponed until July 17.
According to a report in The News, the session was abruptly adjourned on Monday night to allow for the issuance of the Ordinance.
Imran, wife, summoned
Meanwhile, NAB Rawalpindi has summoned Imran Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and his wife Bushra Imran Khan today (Tuesday) in two separate cases.
The PTI chief has been ordered to testify before the watchdog in the Toshakhana case and Bushra Bibi in a £190 million National Crime Agency (NCA) UK settlement.
Imran Khan and his wife were issued three summonses, but they ignored them by looking for new times to appear in court.
After receiving approval from the federal cabinet, acting president Sadiq Sanjrani signed the NAB (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 in the dark of the night.
The NAB chairman is authorised under the ordinance to issue an arrest warrant for an accused person who refuses to cooperate with an inquiry.
This is the second time the coalition administration has altered this specific part of the NAB law. Previously in June 2022, it had amended the NAB legislation to cut the length of physical remand from 90 days to 14 days.
The authorities have not provided any explanation as to why it was necessary to enhance the detention limit under the law so quickly.
It is important to note that when the National Assembly is in session, hence presidential ordinances may not be issued. Moreover, the elected president is currently out of the country and the Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani is currently acting as the president.
The legislature was technically not prorogued after the National Budget was approved on June 24. Instead, it was merely postponed until July 17.
According to a report in The News, the session was abruptly adjourned on Monday night to allow for the issuance of the Ordinance.
Imran, wife, summoned
Meanwhile, NAB Rawalpindi has summoned Imran Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and his wife Bushra Imran Khan today (Tuesday) in two separate cases.
The PTI chief has been ordered to testify before the watchdog in the Toshakhana case and Bushra Bibi in a £190 million National Crime Agency (NCA) UK settlement.
Imran Khan and his wife were issued three summonses, but they ignored them by looking for new times to appear in court.