On Saturday night, President Mamnoon Hussain promulgated ''''''''The National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017''''''''. The Ordinance which became operative with immediate effect has been promulgated to curb corruption in the country in the wake of a hue and cry raised by political parties and members of civil society on the provisions of voluntary return and plea bargain of the NAB Act.
The National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017 has amended Section 15 and substitution of Section 25 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999. Voluntary return and plea bargain provisions have now both been merged as "In both cases, an individual who wants to return the amounts embezzled will require court approval and will be deemed to be convicted; if he/she is a holder of public office, he/she will be dismissed and disqualified from holding that public office for life, "
According to the salient features of the Ordinance; (i) The provisions of voluntary return and plea bargain have been merged; (ii) A voluntary return arrangement will now be subject to the approval of the court, and will not be at the discretion of Chairman NAB; (iii) The person entering into such arrangement shall be deemed to be convicted and (a) shall stand disqualified from being a holder of public office, (b) if in government service shall stand dismissed without any pecuniary benefits and shall not thereafter be eligible to hold public office; and (iv) A person convicted by the court for corruption and corrupt practices shall cease to hold public office and shall stand disqualified from being a holder of public office in future.
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