Opposition senators rap govt for 'legitimising corruption'.

ISLAMABAD -- The opposition in the Senate on Tuesday continued its protest against the controversial amendments to the accountability law, acAAcusing the government of legitimising corruption.

After getting the chair's nod for a half-hour discussion on the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) amendment bill, the opposition members lambasted Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal for his purported remarks that corruption did not impede economic development.

Former minister Shibli Faraz alleged that the present government had come to power through a conspiracy to give 'NRO-2' (relief in corruption cases) to itself. He said the NAB and the elections amendment bills had been passed in haste, alleging that both drafts had been amended with an intention to protect corruption and corrupt practices. 'They have solved their cases by enacting an immoral law,' he remarked.

The PTI senator lamented that the anti-graft watchdog had been made subservient to the Interior Ministry. Under Section 25-D of the NAB amendment law, he maintained, if one of the accomplices entered into a plea bargain, it would not be used against other witnesses and suspects. He said it was a classic example of becoming a judge in one's own case, and noted the amendments had a direct link with the recent money laundering case against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

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He said it was for the defendants to justify accumulation of assets beyond means, but the controversial amendment reversed the condition and placed the onus of proof on the prosecution. All of this was being done to quash the corruption cases worth Rs1,100 to 1,200 billion.

'The faces of those trying to legitimise corruption should be unmasked before the people. The leadership of those sitting on my left is corrupt to the core,' Mr Faraz said, pointing towards the treasury benches.

Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, also from the PTI, said the premier and 60 per cent of his cabinet were involved in various cases, adding that an accused could not become the judge in a case against himself. Under Section 14 of the NAB amendment law, the definition of assets had been changed and now nobody would be answerable for the assets amassed in the names of family members.

He said the amendments would help the leadership of the PPP and PML-N get relief in corruptAion cases. He mentioned some 'tailor-made' ameAndments, which according to him would...

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