LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to challenge the relief given in high court to many under the amendment to the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.

The decision was taken in a meeting of the regional board presided over by NAB Lahore Director General Shahzad Saleem here on Wednesday.

The meeting directed the bureau’s prosecution wing to prepare appeals against those who got relief through this amendment.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government had made drastic changes in the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 through a presidential ordinance promulgated on Dec 27.

Under the ordinance, the NAB powers were curtailed, keeping in view frequent complaints of the bureaucracy and the business community.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had said the amendment to the NAO 1999, was “a tough decision” but it had to be taken in the country’s interest.

Meanwhile, the NAB on Wednesday upgraded probe against Editor-in-Chief of the Jang Group Mir Shakilur Rahman to investigation stage, leading to filing a reference against him.

He is in NAB’s custody till April 28.

The NAB had on March 21 arrested Mr Rahman in a 34-year-old case related to 54-kanal land he allegedly acquired “illegally” in the tenure of then chief minister of Punjab Nawaz Sharif.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2020