LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday raised an objection to an application against the National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019, promulgated by the government through a presidential ordinance on Friday bringing momentous alterations to the accountability law known as the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.
The court pointed out that the petition could not be fixed for an immediate hearing due to winter holidays, and it could be heard after holidays.
Yesterday, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi clarified that the ordinance was not aimed at providing a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), relief or protection to anybody.
In his talk to the media in Multan, the minister pointed out that the revision of the anti-graft agency’s jurisdiction was demanded by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
“The amendment has not been made to protect corruption […] on one hand, it was being said that investors were not investing [in the country ,” he said.
Qureshi lamented over opposition’s claim of dysfunctional economic (policies of the government), and putting resistance to economic affairs at the same time.
“Government’s measures are criticised for economic stability [of the state],” he added, while regretting that criticism without thorough study of a subject has become a norm in our society.