The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government has decided to form an independent commission to oversee functioning of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Senator Mushahidullah said on Thursday.
Speaking exclusively to a private news channel, he said this would not be a government commission and will only be formed after the parliament’s approval.
When asked about consequences of questioning the NAB’s independence through the commission, the PML-N leader said that, “This will also be an independent commission”.
Senator Mushahidullah went on to say that the ruling party was not considering removing the NAB chairman, who he added was appointed constitutionally.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the PM House dismissed reports about a likely meeting of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with the NAB chairman on Thursday.
“News reports about a meeting between the prime minister and NAB chairman are unfounded and baseless,” he said, adding that there was no question of cancelling the meeting when no such thing was scheduled at first place.
The development comes against the backdrop of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s warning to NAB, asking it to stay within its limits and stop threatening and harassing government employees or action would be taken against it.
A spokesman for NAB reacted to the harsh statement saying the bureau respected the opinion of the Prime Minister and it was determined to eliminate corruption from society.
He said NAB had inherited some issues and steps were being taken to address them.
The spokesman said the NAB was an independent body because of the government’s policy of non-interference and the accountability process would be improved in the light of suggestions given by the prime minister.