HEAD LINES:

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PASSES THE EHTESAB AMENDMENT BILL 1998 TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS OF INVESTIGATION AND TRIAL OF CASES.

NEWS IN DETAIL:

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TODAY PASSED THE EHTESAB AMENDMENT BILL, 1998 WHICH SEEKS TO AMEND THE EHTESAB ACT OF 1997 IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS OF INVESTIGATION AND TRIAL OF CASES. UNDER THE AMENDMENT AN ACCOUNTABILITY CASE CAN BE WITHDRAWN AT ANY STAGE OF THE TRIAL, PENDING CASES CAN BE TAKEN-UP AND SUCH HOLDERS OF PUBLIC OFFICES CAN BE PROSECUTED WHO HAVE NOT DIRECTLY BENEFITED THROUGH AN ILLEGAL PRACTICE BUT THROUGH THEIR AGENTS OR CRONIES. EHTESAB BUREAU CAN ALSO APPEAL TO THE SUPREME COURT AGAINST THE JUDGEMENT OF A HIGH COURT. NO SUIT OR PROSECUTION OR LEGAL PROCEEDINGS SHALL NOW LIE AGAINST A PERSON FOR ANYTHING DONE IN GOOD FAITH UNDER THE ACT. OPPOSITION TABLED SEVEN AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL, ALL OF WHICH WERE REJECTED BY THE HOUSE. SPEAKING ON THE OBJECTIVES OF THE NEW LEGISLATION AND REPLYING TO THE OBJECTIONS RAISED BY OPPOSITION MEMBERS, THE FEDERAL MINISTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE MR. KHALID ANWAR SAID, THE AMENDMENTS DO NOT SEEK TO EMPOWER EHTESAB BUREAU WITH THE AUTHORITY TO ARREST A PERSON. THIS POWER SOLELY RESTS WITH THE HIGH COURTS. EHTESAB BUREAU HAS BEEN GIVEN RIGHT TO APPEAL AGAINST THE JUDGEMENT OF A HIGH COURT. THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HAS NOW ADJOURNED SINE DIE.

WEATHER:

RAIN WITH DUST AND THUNDERSTORM IS EXPECTED AT ISOLATED PLACES OF PUNJAB, SINDH AND KASHMIR.