Yet another petition against Sindh accountability law filed in SHC
- By Web Desk -
- Aug 15, 2017
KARACHI: Yet another constitutional petition challenging the National Accountability Ordinance (NAB) 1999 Sindh Repeal Act that repeals the applicability of the NAB law in Sindh province was filed in the Sindh High Court on Tuesday, ARY News reported.
After the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has gone to the court questioning the new law that repeals the applicability of the NAB Ordinance in the province.
PTI leader Ali Zaidi filed the petition in the high court, contending that the PPP-led government had introduced such law to cover up corruption scandals of its leaders. He prayed to the court to set aside the new law and restore the jurisdiction of the NAB Ordinance in the province.
Last week, a division bench of SHC had issued notice to the provincial and federal authorities to file their response to the petitions filed by MQM-P leader Dr Farooq Sattar and PML-F’s Nusrat Sehar Abbasi challenging the law.
Barrister Farogh Naseem, who represented the MQM leader, contended that the new law is a bid by the ruling party to cover up its shenanigans. He pleaded the judges to strike down the law since it was in violation of the Constitution.
On July 03, Sindh Assembly passed the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 Repeal Bill, 2017. It aimed at repealing the applicability of the NAB Ordinance to departments and autonomous bodies controlled by the provincial government.
Subsequently, Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair declined to give assent to it and returned the bill with objections. After which, the Sindh cabinet discussed the objections and tabled the new draft in the provincial assembly which was passed on July 27.
Terming the NAB related law a ‘black law’ the opposition parties in Sindh argued that it was in violation of Articles 248, 143, 8 and 31 of the Constitution. They alleged that the new law is aimed at shielding several powerful individuals from proceedings under corruption charges.