Shehbaz Sharif terms amended NAB ordinance similar to 'no trust motion' against parliament

"The joint opposition will give the government a tough time over the ordinance that now allows the NAB chairman to enjoy another four-year term," the PML-N stalwart vowed in a press statement.

Shahbaz said with 18 major amendments in the "already controversial NAB law", the government is trying to "escape accountability", adding amendments to the NAB law through the ordinance are "unconstitutional and undemocratic".

The Opposition leader said this "black ordinance" is a step towards establishing "personal rule" through the "strangulation of democracy" in the country.

He said that the Opposition would not allow the government to "snatch away" the powers outlined for institutions in the Constitution and would stop all such government measures in consultation with stakeholders.

President Arif Alvi on Wednesday promulgated the National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, under which NAB Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal will continue to serve the post until a new chairman is appointed and will also be eligible to be renamed as chairman.

National Accountability (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 promulgated

President Dr Arif Alvi promulgated the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, further amending the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.

The Ordinance has been promulgated by the President in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 89 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan on 6 October, 2021.

The Ordinance may be called the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 shall come into force at once.