Federal Minister for Law and Justice, Barrister Dr. Farogh Naseem, addressing the National Assembly session, expressed his views regarding the statement of Leader of the Opposition, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, to form a House Committee to discuss and report on the conduct of National Accountability Bureau. He said Section 36 of the NAB ordinance prohibits it. He quoted Section 36 of the NAB Ordinance that “No suit, prosecution, or any other proceedings shall lie against the Federal Government, Provincial Government, Chairman NAB, or any other member of the NAB or any person exercising any power or performing any function under this Ordinance or Rules”. The formation of a House Committee on NAB, contradicts with Section 36. Regarding the Production Order of Mian Shehbaz Sharif, the Law Minister said, he commended the role of the Speaker in issuing the Production Order. The Speaker, Mr. Asad Qaiser, consulted with him, for legal advice on Rule 108 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly 2007. “I told the Honourable Speaker that the language of Rule 108 was such that the Speaker in the exercise of his discretion could issue or refuse to issue the Production Order. But he chose to proceed in the best manner and set a good example”. However, the Law Minister was also of the opinion that according to Rule 31(3) a and Article 204 of the Constitution, debate and discussion on the sub judice matters was forbidden. He further said, The Assembly was not a place to discuss NAB proceedings since it was not a court of Law. The Speaker National Assembly or its Committee could not give a verdict as to whether the NAB Proceedings against Shahbaz Sharif were presumed bonafides or malafides. He said Section 24 of NAB Ordinance gives it blanket powers to make arrests during investigation and inquiry. He emphasized that NAB was under no pressure from the government and was functioning according to the rule of law independently. ***** ?
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