Defaulters were to be brought to task under the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) promulgated in 1999. The Ehtesab Commission (later named Ehtesab Cell and then Bureau) was created by the appointed caretaker government under presidential ordinance after Benazir Bhutto’s dismissal. The Ehtesab Commission was thus set up under the premise that accountability was more important than administration. Thus, began the endless cycle of politicising accountability using state institutions. The National Accountability Ordinance gives sweeping authority to NAB as it operates, in theory, at a federal level.

Source: Pakistan Today April 12, 2019 20:48 UTC