Expressing reservations over the Accountability Bill presented by the government in the National Assembly, ruling coalition partner Awami National Party said on Saturday that it had not been taken into confidence before the bill’s presentation in the House. ANP spokesman Zahid Khan said his party had strong concerns over the new accountability bill moved by the government. He said the government had not consulted his party on the bill. Sources in the ANP said that a party meeting would soon be held to decide whether to support, oppose or remain out of the house during voting on the bill.
Major opposition party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is strongly opposed to the bill, and Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has asked the ruling coalition partners – the ANP and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) – to oppose the bill “if they really want an end to corruption in the country”. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice is presently discussing the new Accountability Bill.Sources said that the government was trying to pass the bill from the National Assembly during the current session.