ISLAMABAD: Acting President Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday signed two ordinances on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which were promulgated following the approval by the federal cabinet.

Mr Gilani, who assumed the role of acting president after Asif Ali Zar­dari went to Dubai on a private visit, signed the Elec­tions Act (Ame­nd­m­ent) Ordinance 2024 and NAB (Amend­ment) Ordi­nance 2024 into law.

The NAB ordinance ext­ends the remand period of accused from 14 to 40 days. However, the sentence dur­a­tion for the officer convic­ted of framing cases based on ill will has been reduced from five to two years.

Meanwhile, under the Elections Act (Amend­ment) Ordinance 2024, election tribunals will have retired judges as their members, besides serving judges.

This changes the law after amendments made by the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and caretaker set up barred NAB from taking up cases involving an amount less than Rs500 million. Similarly, the period of remand was reduced from 90 days to 14 days.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Military convictions
Updated 22 Dec, 2024

Military convictions

Pakistan’s democracy, still finding its feet, cannot afford such compromises on core democratic values.
Need for talks
22 Dec, 2024

Need for talks

FOR a long time now, the country has been in the grip of relentless political uncertainty, featuring the...
Vulnerable vaccinators
22 Dec, 2024

Vulnerable vaccinators

THE campaign to eradicate polio from Pakistan cannot succeed unless the safety of vaccinators and security personnel...
Strange claim
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Strange claim

In all likelihood, Pakistan and US will continue to be ‘frenemies'.
Media strangulation
Updated 21 Dec, 2024

Media strangulation

Administration must decide whether it wishes to be remembered as an enabler or an executioner of press freedom.
Israeli rampage
21 Dec, 2024

Israeli rampage

ALONG with the genocide in Gaza, Israel has embarked on a regional rampage, attacking Arab and Muslim states with...