NAO Repeal Bill: Opposition leaders develop prejudice, says CM Sindh

KARACHI: Deploring National Accountability Bureau (NAB)’s ongoing investigation against ministers in Sindh, Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday said that no other province is facing similar unkind NAB’s attitude towards legislators.

In a statement the CM Sindh said the opposition leaders in the provincial assembly have developed a prejudice against the bill. “Is there any other province facing mammoth number of corruption cases against 12 ministers other than Sindh,” he questioned.

Calling the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) Repeal Bill 2017 a legitimate right, he said its approval and implementation is the constitutional right.

It merits to be mentioned here that the chief minister had called all opposition parties to gain their confidence on the issue by seeking revocation of NAO 1999 on July 21.

Earlier this month, the NAO 1999 Repeal bill was passed in the Sindh Assembly amid protest by opposition parties on July 3 but Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair refused to ratify the anti-NAB bill on July 14.

The bill was sent back to the Sindh Assembly for reconsideration.

The Sindh government had asserted that it’s the responsibility of the provincial government to take action against corruption and any action undertaken by the federation with regard to anti-corruption would be deemed unconstitutional.

The bill states that eradicating corruption in the province is the sole responsibility of the provincial government rather than the federal government by curtailing the NAB’s powers.