ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has said that to correct the accountability system in the country, the government would welcome suggestions from all the political parties.
Winding up the discussion on National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) performance, Pervaiz Rashid told the National Assembly that there is a need to make the accountability system fair, transparent and prestigious. He said the NAB chairman has also admitted that there is need to improve the accountability system. The minister said the government will welcome the proposals of parliament to improve this system. He also said it is everybody’s responsibility, including media and politicians, to respect the code of conduct of PEMRA.
Pervez said responsibility also lies with the regulatory authority to implement its code. He said he has personally appeared before the council of complaint of PEMRA in a complaint lodged against him by a TV anchor. However, the complainant has flied to the United States last night instead of appearing before the council. Pervaiz informed the National Assembly that the government wanted accountability in which no corrupt elements are spared. “We want such an accountability where no one could disgrace the innocent, while the corrupt are not spared,” he said while responding to a motion moved by PPP’s Imran Khan Zafar Leghari regarding the performance of NAB. He said it was need of the hour to make accountability process more transparent and added suggestions from the opposition would be welcomed to further improve the system.
He said the NAB chairman had been appointed with the consultation of opposition, and even he has admitted that there is a need to improve the accountability system. He said that the points raised by the opposition required proper attention. Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali had rightly pointed out that everyone should check their approach, Pervaiz said, adding that the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had modified the accountability laws and now fingers are being raised towards it.
He said no doubt accountability process had been used as a tool to victimise the opponents, but the system had also delivered to some extent. “We have a history of good and bad accountability as well,” he added. Earlier, participating in the discussion on a matter of urgent public importance, MNA Imran Leghari said there should be accountability of the corrupt. He said that from 1947 to 1997, there was no institution of accountability in the country but the ratio of corruption was also low during this era. MNA Murad Saeed said there is a dire need of reforms in NAB, and it should stop the process of pre-bargaining and its crackdowns should be transparent.
Former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said that the previous government of Pakistan People’s Party had instituted 25 cases against Nawaz Sharif. He said that criticism is everyone’s right, but they should compare it with their tenure in government. He said corruption cannot be eliminated but can be reduced to the minimum level. Earlier, opening the discussion on performance of NAB, Leghari said that a dictator had set up NAB in 2002 only to change loyalty of some politicians. Terming NAB ordinance a black law, he said it was set up for political victimisation.
He urged the politicians to join hands against this evil act and accused NAB of setting up obstacles in the way of the government. Separately, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Thursday forwarded the amendment bill regarding the number of Supreme Court judges to the relevant standing committee. The bill was tabled by JUI-F MNA Naeema Kishwar. Also, the House rejected a resolution urging the government to take steps to fix minimum interest-free house building advance amount at two million rupees for government employees. The resolution was moved by Sajida Begum. Meanwhile, State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed assured the House that the next general elections 2018 would be held under new population census. The Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill 2016 was introduced in the National Assembly on Thursday to enhance fine and imprisonment to Rs 300,000 and three years, respectively, for under-age marriages.
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