NAB empowered to detain suspects for 30 days

ISLAMABAD: The federal government made amendments to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law through an ordinance, allowing the anti-graft watchdog to detain suspects in custody for 30 days instead of 14 days over ‘non-cooperation’.

Acting President and Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani signed the ordinance, expanding the authority of the accountability watchdog to detain individuals for 30 days over ‘non-cooperation’.

In an official notification issued by Sanjrani, it said: “The prime minister’s advice, as outlined in paragraph 6 of the summary, has been duly approved. The National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, has been signed and officially promulgated.”

The ordinance, which came into effect around midnight on Monday, introduces several key changes, including an extension of the duration of physical remand from 14 days to 30 days.

This amendment follows a recent revision made by the incumbent government to the National Accountability Ordinance 1999, where the duration of physical remand had been significantly reduced from 90 days to 14 days.

The decision has sparked debates and raised concerns among various stakeholders about the potential impact on civil liberties and due process.