Muhammad Asad
ISLAMABAD: Government is preparing to move a legal draft for brining basic changes in the procedure regarding appointment of the new Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and necessary consultation has been finalized during today’s cabinet meeting. It was shared by the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain while addressing a post-Cabinet meetup news conference in Islamabad on Tuesday. Fawad informed the media that Prime Minister has refused to consult the opposition leader in the National Assembly, Shahbaz Sharif in the matter of appointment of new Chairman NAB.
He said that taking the consultation from Opposition leader, who himself is under investigation by the NAB, is same as appointing an investigator with the desire of a criminal.
Fawad suggested to the opposition to change their leader in the national Assembly.
According to Information Minister, government has prepared an ordinance bill to replace the previously in practice legal framework for appointment of the anti-graft watch dog Chief, however he did not confirm the extension of incumbent NAB’s Chairman Justice Retired Javed Iqbal.
While talking about electoral reforms, Fawad said that government tried to hold dialogues with opposition regarding electoral reforms, but they did not demonstrate a positive response.
While responding to a media query regarding electricity bill, Information Minister said that government will extend Rs. 7 per unit subsidy on their extra usage of electricity during winter season.
Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said that the Federal Cabinet decided to reduce the imprisonment term of prisoners on the eve of Eid-Milad-un-Nabi.
While discussing recent revelations of Pandora papers published by International Consortium of Investigative Journalism (ICIJ) regarding offshore assets of 700 Pakistanis, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said that government has established a high-level cell under Prime Minister Inspection Commission to ascertain the facts with the help of government’s agencies including FIA, NAB and FBR.
According to Fawad, the report would be presented to the Prime Minister who will further decide the future course of action on the subject.
Information Minister told media that modern technology would be used during conduct of next census in the country. He said that government intends to take assistance from National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and other Departments during next census in the country.
While answering another question regarding protest of the doctors, Information Minister said that after MBBS degree the National Licensing Examination (NLE) would be conducted to evaluate the medical students and government would not take risk in the regard.
Chaudhry Fawad was of the view that these tests like Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) and National Licensing Examination (NLE) are widely being used in the world.
