ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shibli Faraz Monday said the opposition proposed 34 amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance at a time when the government was seeking opposition's cooperation in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-related legislation to bring Pakistan out of the FATF's grey list.

While addressing a media conference, the senator said that the opposition had proposed 34 out of 38 amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance to hide corruption of its leadership committed in the past.

Shibli Faraz said the opposition's pressurizing tactics would not make the government offer any kind of NRO to them.

Syed Shibli Faraz said those amendments if incorporated would not only grant the opposition an NRO but would also make the NAB practically dysfunctional.

He said the opposition proposed that the NAB should not have powers to take up cases reported before 1999, and should only take notice of corruption cases reported in the last five years.

The minister said another proposal was to change the definition of Benamidars, giving free hands to make corruption in the name of wife and children.

He said the opposition also suggested that corruption cases of less than one billion rupees, willful default or writing off loan, and offence of money laundering should stay out of the NAB's purview.

It was proposed to allow convicts to contest elections till final disposal of their cases and disqualification should be up to only five years, he added.

He said the opposition desired to make redundant the international mutual legal assistance law, and dealing it under law of evidence of Pakistan.

The minister said those amendments if incorporated would grant corrupt leaders of opposition an NRO plus, making the NAB practically dysfunctional.

The opposition attempted to create a divide among institutions responsible for the country's security, added Shibli Faraz.

He said things were improving in all sectors, which was evident from the fact that the country's exports were now increasing with every passing day.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020