Observer Report
Islamabad
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Sunday defended the government’s decision to make changes in the country’s accountability law through a presidential ordinance.
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government had made drastic changes in the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 through a presidential ordinance promulgated on Friday. Under the ordinance, the powers of the National Accountability Bureau were curtailed keeping in view frequent complaints of the bureaucracy and the business community.
Taking to Twitter, the PM’s aide lashed out at opposition parties for making the issue about politics. “Imran Khan is not afraid of accountability. Even his political opponents have and always will be unable to prove charges of corruption against him,” she said.
She added that the prime minister’s fight against corruption was still ongoing. “NAB is meant to investigate mega corruption scandals. Now, the bureau will be able to better focus on executing this role.“Inquiries will be initiated against those government employees who have benefitted from procedural discrepancies or departmental errors. Public office holders who misused their powers [for their personal benefit] by having an unprecedented increase in their assets are not exempt.” She added that honest, hardworking government employees have nothing to fear. “Under the ordinance, honest public office holders will be able to make decisions in the greater public interest without any fear. This will make governance more active, the economy more stable and will give way to a more conducive environment for business.”
