Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Wednesday that the government should retract a presidential ordinance that seeks to disbar for life public office holders and government servants who seek to benefit from the National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) plea bargain and voluntary return laws.

The comments were made during the first meeting of a parliamentary committee created to review Pakistan's accountability laws.

"Why a presidential ordinance was passed after the formation of a parliamentary committee to review the laws is beyond my understanding," Qureshi observed.

Explore: Govt passes ordinance to disqualify and disbar beneficiaries of plea bargain law for life

Federal Minister for Law Zahid Hamid, who chairs the parliamentary committee, replied: "If the opposition does not agree with the amendments [to the law], it can be changed."

"The opposition's suggestions will all be taken into account when NAB's laws are being amended," he assured.

Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chief and Member of National Assembly Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao said the scope of NAB's accountability powers should be expanded, stating: "Generals and judges should also be added to the purview of the accountability ordinance."

Senator Farhatullah Babar echoed the sentiment, adding that "The law will not be complete if only politicians and bureaucrats are held accountable."

The next session of the parliamentary committee, fixed for Jan 17, will be held in-camera.