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Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Senate on Thursday passed a private member’s bill to amend the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999, introduce a second appellate forum in accountability cases and clarify several procedural provisions related to bail, jurisdiction and administrative continuity within the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposed by Senator Mohammad Abdul Qadir, proposes that high court decisions in NAB cases can be challenged through a second appeal to the Federal Constitutional Court within 30 days, thereby expanding the appeal framework for accountability proceedings.
Justice Minister Azam Nazir Tarar told the House that the government had no objection to the proposed amendments, describing them as constructive improvements to the existing law.
Speaking during the debate, Tarar said the bill addressed some procedural ambiguities in the Accountability Act, particularly regarding the power of courts to grant bail and the handling of proceedings.
“In my opinion, these are good suggestions,” the Justice Minister said, adding that the amendments aimed to provide clarity and strengthen legal guarantees on accountability.
According to the proposed amendments, the accountability courts and competent high courts would be clearly empowered to grant bail or order the release of an accused under the relevant provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The bill also proposes to allow the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau to serve a three-year term that may be extended once for an additional three years, replacing the current provision that prohibits reappointment or extension.
Another change aims to adjust the financial threshold used in NAB cases annually based on the inflation index published by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, thereby ensuring that monetary limits remain realistic over time.
Additionally, the bill clarifies that the procedural provisions governing trials under the Accountability Act would also apply to appellate proceedings, a move intended to remove any ambiguity of interpretation in the order.
House Leader Senator Ishaq Dar supported the bill during debate, arguing that it introduced positive legal improvements and should not be politicized.
He said the Constitution allows the Federal Constitutional Court to hear appeals from High Court decisions if Parliament provides for such a forum through legislation.
“The Constitution clearly states that the Federal Constitutional Court has jurisdiction to hear appeals from judgments and orders of a high court where an Act of Parliament so provides,” Dar said, citing the relevant constitutional provision.
He stressed that the measure was a private member’s bill and stressed that Parliament regularly considers such legislative proposals.
“If anyone feels that further changes are necessary, another amendment bill can always be introduced. Legislation is an evolving process,” he said.
However, the Treasury benches supported the proposal, arguing that it would strengthen due process protections in liability cases.
Law Minister Tarar told the House that under the current NAB Act, only one appeal as of right is available, to the relevant High Court, and the proposed amendment would expand the legal remedies available to litigants.
He added that creating an additional appeals forum could help address long-standing criticism that the liability law is too strict and lacks adequate safeguards for fundamental rights.
The motion to introduce the bill was put to a vote by the chair and passed by voice vote despite opposition from some members.
After its adoption in the Senate, the bill will now be sent to the National Assembly for examination.
