Pakistan government makes overnight stringent changes in anti-corruption laws

Pakistan's government has made overnight changes in anti-corruption laws to make m more stringent, hours before former premier Imran Khan's appearance before country's apex anti-graft investigation ncy on Tuesday in a corruption case.

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, who is working as acting president in absence of President Arif Alvi, who is away on pilgrim, issued an ordinance to empower National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to arrest a suspect during inquiry period and also allow NAB court to remand a suspect for 30 days in custody after arrest instead of earlier 15 days.

ordinance was issued at advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

“ prime minister’s advice in para 6 of summary is approved. National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, is signed and promulgated,” a tification signed by Sanjrani stated.

changes were made around midnight and just hours before Khan was set to appear before NAB.

Khan, 70, left with his wife Bushra Bibi from Lahore to Islamabad as both were to appear before NAB in Al-Qadir Trust case, his media team anunced in a WhatsApp mess.

Al-Qadir Trust case alleges that PTI chief and his wife obtained billions of rupees and land from a real estate firm for legalising Rs 50 billion that was identified and returned to country by UK during previous government led by Khan.

Al-Qadir Trust case is about corruption of at least Rs 50 billion. Khan has denied any wrongdoing and accused government of targeting him for political reasons.

Interestingly, same government earlier had changed NAB law to reduce remand period to 14 days from original 90 days. But it again enhanced remand duration to 30 days.

NAB laws have been quite controversial as successive governments used m to silence opposition. Several current Cabinet members, including Prime Minister Sharif, remained in NAB custody for months over charges of corruption when Khan was prime minister.