President Asif Ali Zardari has formally approved the NAB (Amendment) Bill 2026, introducing significant changes to the tenure and powers of the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The bill was passed through both houses of Parliament amid strong opposition protests and political criticism.
According to official reports, the amendment allows the tenure of the NAB chairman to be extended by an additional three years. Previously, the chairman could only serve a single non-extendable term of three years. With the new amendment, the federal government now has the authority to grant one extension, potentially allowing the chairman to serve up to six years in total.
The current NAB chairman Nazir Ahmed, who assumed office on March 4, 2023, following the resignation of Aftab Sultan, will now continue his tenure until March 2029 under the newly approved law.
The legislation also introduces several structural and legal changes to the accountability framework in Pakistan. One major amendment allows the financial threshold for corruption cases investigated by NAB to be revised annually based on the inflation index published by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Previously, NAB could only take action on corruption cases exceeding Rs500 million.
Additionally, amendments to Section 4 expand the jurisdiction of accountability courts, allowing them to handle both trials and appeals related to corruption cases. Changes to Section 9 also empower accountability courts and high courts to grant bail under provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Another notable change is the introduction of a second appeal mechanism. Individuals convicted in accountability cases may now file a second appeal to the Federal Constitutional Court within thirty days after a high court decision.
Despite the government’s claim that the amendment strengthens accountability procedures and introduces safeguards, the bill faced strong opposition in Parliament. Leaders from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) argued that the bill was politically motivated and undermined democratic processes.
PTI parliamentary leader Syed Ali Zafar criticised the legislation, claiming it was rushed through Parliament and damaged the institution’s credibility. Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan warned that the amendments could allow influential individuals to escape corruption investigations.
The government, however, maintains that the NAB Amendment Bill 2026 is designed to modernise accountability laws, improve judicial procedures, and ensure that financial thresholds remain realistic in light of inflation.
